After the 1948 Arab invasion of Israel failed, Egypt refused to allow a Palestinian state orr self-determination in Gaza. Egypt used Gaza as a base for fedayeen raids on Israel, while ruling with an iron fist, preventing Palestinians from entering egypt. Egypt`s main goal was to use its population as cannon fodder against Israel.
Israel`s conquest of the Sinai in the 1967 Six-Day War forced a change in tactics but not the goal. When Egypt took back the Sinai in 1982, it REFUSED TO TAKE BACK GAZA (as Israel requested). As with every issue during the Camp David negotiations Carter sided with Egypt.
Throughout the 1980`s and 1990`s Egypt allowed smuggling of weapons into Gaza, while continuing to clamp down on individual Palestinians. Its overriding goal remained to use Gaza as a means to delegitimize Israel, while talking publicly of "humanitarian"needs.
The smashing of the border wall with Egypt may finally force Egypt to take some responsibility for its policies. The smashing of the border wall with Egypt may finally force Egypt to take some responsibility for its policies. Surely Gaza can get its supplys from Egypt? Why should Israel have the responsibility of providing ALL services (which it still does) to a territory ruled by a group sworn to Israel`s destruction, and from which it is attacked several times daily? (1 killed in Dimona) Egypt would be given leeway in dealing with Hamas that the Arab world will not allow to Israel.
Unfortunately there is little likelihood that Egypt will change and take forward-looking policies. Had Egypt welcomed and absorbed Arab refugees as Israel did with all the Jewish refugees from Arab countries, the situation in Gaza and elsewhere could have been far better. |
|
