Israeli Government Issues Warning As Gaza Border Security Evaporates

By Andrew Cochran

The Israeli government has issued warnings against traveling in the Sinai Peninsula in the wake of Hamas' destruction of the Egypt-Gaza Strip border wall and the elimination of any effective border security at the Rafah crossing. "Terrorists in Sinai are working to abduct Israelis and transfer them to the Gaza Strip," warned the Prime Minister's media adviser. "The currently open border between the Gaza Strip and Sinai makes it easier for terrorists to move back and forth. Therefore, the National Security Council Counter-Terrorism Bureau recommends that Israelis avoid visit Sinai and that any Israelis currently there leave forthwith." The sight of tens of thousands of people streaming back and forth between Gaza and Egypt raises the likelihood that arms shipments and cash will be streaming to Hamas without hindrance from sympathizers in Egypt and elsewhere. It's a nightmare security scenario for counter-terrorism forces in Egypt and Israel, and for U.S. officials intent on negotiating a comprehensive peace settlement. Surely Israel will not risk further infiltration by waiting for Egypt or a third party to reassert border security there.

This looks like the "Waziristan-ization" of Gaza to me.

TrackBack