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Hamas men collar a protester in Rafah, demanding the admittance of stranded pilgrims (Flash90)
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| By Israel Insider staff January 2, 2008 |
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| Egyptian at Rafah border crossing, before the Palestinians were allowed to enter (Flash90) |
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Israeli defense officials slammed Egypt on Wednesday after it allowed more than 2000 Palestinian pilgrims returning from Mecca to cross into Gaza through the Hamas-controlled Rafah border crossing, contrary to an agreement between the two countries reached last week.
Israeli officials told the Jerusalem Post that at least two dozen senior Hamas members -- including former ministers in the Hamas government, as well as senior members of the terror group's Izadin al-Kassam military wing -- were part of the group crossing the border and were believed to be carrying tens of millions of dollars which they collected in Saudi Arabia. In addition, some of the Hamas members were believed to have traveled to Iran for military training.
"This is against all agreements," a senior defense official fumed, noting that Egypt's decision to open up Rafah against Israel's objections exactly one week after Defense Minister Ehud Barak visited Egypt for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, was "grounds for a diplomatic crisis." The official said that while the decision to open Rafah was bad for Israel, it was even more damaging to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, undermining the West Bank chieftain and his government in Ramallah.
Among those coming through Rafah were former Fatah-linked security officers who fled Gaza during Hamas's takeover. Fatah sources and witnesses said that Hamas detained at least 15 of the Fatah men. Hamas sources put the number at nine.
Public Security Minister Avi Dichter told Israel's Channel 10 television Wednesday: "I think that on this matter it is very important for Israel to insist -- and stand firm on its right to do so -- that the border between Egypt-Sinai and the Strip be closed and that neither terrorists nor weapons get through." Apparently Israel failed to do do, or lacked any clout to prevent the Egyptian breach. "To me this looks like a trivial matter. Regrettably, it's not trivial from the Egyptians' viewpoint," he said.
The pilgrims left Gaza last month, many to make the Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. They were stranded in Egypt on their way home last weekend after the Egyptian government, in keeping with their agreement with Barak, said they would have to cross through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing, and be inspected there by Israel's security officers, instead of passing through Rafah, which has no foreign inspectors.
Fearing capture or search by the Israelis, Hamas leaders refused to enter through the alternate crossing. Stuck for days in a makeshift camp, the pilgrims rioted and threatened a hunger strike. Earlier Hamas said that they would burn the ferry on which the pilgrims were traveling.
An Egyptian official said Wednesday that Israel had been "informed" of the Egyptian decision to let the pilgrims back, but officials in the Israeli Foreign Ministry denied this. Abbas, currently in Cairo, raised the issue in a meeting with Mubarak, PA Foreign Minister Riad Malki said Wednesday: "The Egyptians completely coordinated their return with the Israeli side."
Mushir al-Masri, a Hamas lawmaker who came out to the Rafah crossing to greet the returning pilgrims, praised Egypt for its decision. "This is a humanitarian case since the start. Egypt's position was laudable. We thank Egypt," al-Masri said.
In a spat between Israel and Egypt that began last week, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Egypt was doing a "terrible" job of securing the border. Egypt's foreign ministry angrily responded that the diplomatic tyro should not speak "randomly about issues she should not be dealing with if she is not fully aware of the situation." And Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit warned Monday that Egypt would "retaliate" diplomatically.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, apparently trying in his clumsy and ineffectual manner to contain the damage, said in a published interview Monday that he valued Egypt's friendship and prays for the health of President Hosni Mubarak. Israel Insider could not confirm a report that sent over a package of Israeli prunes and Jaffa oranges. |
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