Last update - 02:17 31/01/2008
Abbas rejects Hamas' call for control of Gaza-Egypt border
By Haaretz Correspondents and News Agencies , By Barak Ravid, Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected Hamas' demands for control of the Gaza-Egypt border yesterday, signaling that the crisis created when that border was breached is not likely to be resolved in the coming days.
In a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, Abbas called on Hamas to "end its coup in Gaza," as his organization, Fatah, calls the Islamist group's takeover of the Gaza Strip.
"Hamas has to end its coup in Gaza, accept all international obligations, and agree to hold early elections. After that, our hearts are open to any dialogue," Abbas said at a news conference.
He called Hamas an "illegitimate" party.
"There will be no talks with Hamas unless it complies with the conditions we have set: backing off the coup, recognizing international legitimacy and accepting early elections," Abbas said.
Egyptian officials have been pressing Abbas to compromise with Hamas.
"We do not accept any new [border] agreements," he said.
In 2005, the sides negotiated an agreement with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to oversee the Gaza border under joint Palestinian, Israeli and EU supervision.
"Abbas' remarks in Cairo today show he plans to foil any agreements or progress made when the Egyptians, Fatah and Hamas met in Cairo," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum in Gaza.
Hamas signaled it could prevent Egypt from resealing the border unless its own authority there was recognized.
"Talking about a partial role contradicts reality," senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar said as he passed through the Rafah crossing on his way to the Egyptian capital for talks on the future of the border. "The reality is that there is a legitimate government. We will not give up our legitimacy to anybody."
Yesterday, Hamas began trying to create a semblance of control at the Rafah crossing. In front of cameras and media, Zahar and other Hamas leaders had their passports stamped by Hamas border guards.
Khaled Meshal, the Damascus-based Hamas political leader, was expected to arrive in Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials last night, too.
Meanwhile, Al-Ahram, an Egyptian state-run newspaper, reported yesterday that Cairo planned to close the border today.
The paper had reported earlier in the week that Egyptian security forces had arrested five armed Palestinians in Sinai who had an explosives belt they were planning to use in an attack inside Israel.
Israeli security sources told Haaretz last night that the information was accurate and that Israeli authorities had been aware of the arrest before it was publicized.
Israeli sources said they believe Egyptian security forces have improved their efforts to stem the flow of Palestinians into Sinai through the breached Rafah border. Egypt has signaled to Israel that it would tighten border security in the coming days and that force would be used if necessary in order to restore order.
Meanwhile, Israel is sending thousands of vaccines for cattle and avian-borne diseases to the Gaza Strip, fearing that the border breach will bring a wave of sickness to the coastal area, Israeli officials said.
Gazans have brought in supplies and livestock, including large numbers of camels, sheep, cows and chickens, and Israeli authorities fear that these will bring a wave of diseases from Egypt, including foot-and-mouth disease and avian flu. Because of Gaza's proximity to Israeli towns, the diseases could easily spread into Israel.
"It is a very very dangerous situation, and it can cause fatalities if we don't take care of it right now," IDF spokesman Shadi Yassin said. "We will be notified immediately if the Palestinians find any of these diseases inside Gaza."