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Lauren Booth at a news conference before sailing to Gaza last month. (Reuters)
Last update - 05:56 03/09/2008
Israel, Egypt won't let Blair's sister-in-law leave Gaza by land
By Reuters
Tags: Gaza Strip, Blair, Israel 

Middle East peace envoy Tony Blair's sister-in-law, who arrived in Gaza with a boatload of activists protesting an Israeli blockade last month, said Tuesday she was stranded because both Israel and Egypt had denied her entry.

Lauren Booth, sister of the former British prime minister's wife Cherie, revealed her predicament as Blair visited the region to further Western-backed efforts to achieve a limited Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.

Booth was one of 44 foreign "Free Gaza" activists who set sail from Cyprus, docking in Gaza last month, and was one of 10 who remained when the others sailed back to Cyprus on Friday.
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Israel allowed the activists to dock in Gaza on August 23 despite its blockade of the coastal territory since Hamas Islamists, who oppose Israel's existence, seized control last year.

Booth said she has tried unsuccessfully over the past few days to leave through Gaza's land crossings with Israel and Egypt.

"I tried through the proper channels, through the United Kingdom's embassy, but I was told I was not allowed to come through," she said after trying in vain to enter Israel.

An Israel Defense Forces spokesman, Peter Lerner, confirmed Israel had denied Booth entry, saying there was a policy of refusing entry to anyone from Gaza who did not get there via Israel.

"There is no possibility to let in those people who entered by the sea. They cannot enter Israel," Lerner said.

Egypt would not let Booth through its Rafah terminal with Gaza on Saturday. She was turned away along with two other activists, Booth said.

"We were all turned back by the Egyptians," she said, adding that she had received no explanation but had "heard through contacts Egypt was under pressure from Israel to act that way."

Israel has eased some restrictions on Gaza since an Egyptian-brokered truce in June that has largely stopped rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel.

But land crossings have remained largely shut to some 1.5 million Palestinians living in Gaza.

Booth said diplomatic efforts were still being made to permit her to leave. "Thanks to Israel for letting us feel a real taste of Gazan life," she added.

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      1.   Let`s blame Israel for all the troubles under the sun 22:52  |  Gili 02/09/08
      2.   Haha 22:54  |  B 02/09/08
      3.   A diplomatic suggestion: 22:59  |  Wilfred Ashley 02/09/08
      4.   Lauren Booth 23:01  |  rich 02/09/08
      5.   There is a Way Out 23:04  |  Erich 02/09/08
      6.   You make Israel look evil, now you ask for their help... 23:09  |  Zop 02/09/08
      7.   Blair`s sister-in-law a potential "suicide-bomber"....???? 23:13  |  Swiss (Dino) 02/09/08
      8.   in several posts i explained to the capn pugwash crew 23:14  |  vhardman 02/09/08
      9.   Spoiled child of privilege 23:16  |  Kate Raphael 02/09/08
      10.   Interesting Question 23:17  |  JW 02/09/08
      11.   deserves her right 23:19  |  joe Smith 02/09/08
      12.   Nobody said it`d be easy 23:20  |  Upholder of Truth 02/09/08
      13.   Lauren 23:20  |  jipe 02/09/08
      14.   Dino (Swiss) 23:22  |  jipe 02/09/08
      15.   Hilarious 23:25  |  Ben 02/09/08
      16.   She lioves in $ 2 million house in London, but 23:27  |  Ronny 02/09/08
      17.   what a news item - 23:28  |  ivo 02/09/08
      18.   A rich white woman in Gaza 23:32  |  Seth J. Frantzman 02/09/08
      19.   For Gili # 1: I think Booth has already discovered it 23:32  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 02/09/08
      20.   Funny, I thought she would not need any "political favors" 23:33  |  Lynn 02/09/08
      21.   tourism 23:34  |  ron 02/09/08
      22.   #7 Swiss....not to worry 23:35  |  Lynn 02/09/08
      23.   See no reason Israel should let her in 23:36  |  Dave Duncan 02/09/08
      24.   Brilliant political move!! Bravo! 23:41  |  Pablo B 02/09/08
      25.   Sick people defending Hamastan 23:46  |  David 02/09/08
      26.   Dictatorship in Egypt needs to be brought down ! 23:46  |  Joe 02/09/08
      27.   # 14 jipe 23:46  |  Swiss (Dino) 02/09/08
      28.   No words 23:48  |  Daniel 02/09/08
      29.   BLACKMAIL 23:59  |  Robert of Jerusalem 02/09/08
      30.   # 23 Lynn 00:06  |  Swiss (Dino) 03/09/08
      31.   Shouldn`t Her Boatload Activists Friends Do Something ? 00:10  |  Joseph.E 03/09/08
      32.   Let her go find Shalit 00:16  |  Robert 03/09/08
      33.   #8 `VHardman.` Israel is the terrorist state. 00:17  |  Maureen Ann 03/09/08
      34.   Jeepers creepers 00:18  |  K 03/09/08
      35.   IT WAS THE CRAZY IN-LAWS FAULT 00:18  |  David P 03/09/08
      36.   Free Gaza plans a second trip to Gaza within the next month. 00:30  |  Joseph.E 03/09/08
      37.   Shalit Is Victim of Political Gains,She Is Not, She plays the vic 00:33  |  Joseph.E 03/09/08
      38.   She has another 00:33  |  Joe 03/09/08
      39.   Smarty pants - now start having palestinian kids 00:37  |  Slappy 03/09/08
      40.   She is part of the circus 00:46  |  Ron 03/09/08
      41.   Israel, Egypt won`t let Blair`s sister-in-law leave Gaza by land 00:51  |  Jerryk 03/09/08
      42.   For Joe # 26 00:56  |  Clickfool 03/09/08
      43.   she should ask hamas why she cannot leave. or is she to stupid 00:59  |  ralph 03/09/08
      44.   HERE`S HOPING THAT CHERIE JOINS HER! 01:00  |  Freethinker 03/09/08
      45.   Seth J. Frantzman - There was "A rich white woman in Gaza" 01:02  |  Limerick, Please 03/09/08
      46.   She`s an illegal immigrant..#24..pablito 01:08  |  Nemesis 03/09/08
      47.   It seems that many people are just too..... 01:15  |  Deborah 03/09/08
      48.   Well, she did break the law... 01:24  |  David G 03/09/08
      49.   Blair`s sister-in-law Ignores VICIOUS JIHAD Against UK Kids (1) 01:29  |  Linda Rivera 03/09/08
      50.   Make friends with Hamas 01:45  |  Gregor 03/09/08
      51.   Soon she will become a "brand name". 01:46  |  Stephen 03/09/08
      52.   Countries can refuse entry 01:58  |  Great White North 03/09/08
      53.   Robert of Jerusalem She should have checked first. 02:00  |  PETER SM 03/09/08
      54.   SWISS She wouldn`t be the first British suicide bomber 02:02  |  PETER SM 03/09/08
      55.   Joe from occupied Texas 02:05  |  utagawa 03/09/08
      56.   USE the boats they came in. Milking it for all its worth !! 02:06  |  PETER SM 03/09/08
      57.   #24 Pablo B....how many countries do you enter 02:14  |  Lynn 03/09/08
      58.   KOL HAKAVOD OLMERT DID SOMETHING RIGHT FOR ONCE 02:14  |  Zionist forever 03/09/08
      59.   # 34 deborah...what it proves 02:17  |  Lynn 03/09/08
      60.   Nice of them to give rheir spots up on boat to smuggle 02:25  |  Jon 03/09/08
      61.   #7 Swiss (Dino)- no, the potentials were the ones they smuggled 02:27  |  Jon 03/09/08
      62.   Egyptians should stop kowtowing to Israel 02:32  |  Patrick 03/09/08
      63.   Booth for Shalit 02:36  |  ChanahS 03/09/08
      64.   Hope they block the next boat 02:51  |  Dave 03/09/08
      65.   GETTING WHAT SHE DESERVES 03:34  |  Brant 03/09/08
      66.   Ms Booth - try walking on water ... 03:37  |  Morris Valentine 03/09/08
      67.   To Maureen Ann 03:56  |  Morris Valentine 03/09/08
      68.   Why does Booth only protest Israel`s blockade, not Egypt`s? 04:02  |  Fortuna Benmayor 03/09/08
      69.   #30 Swiss....my point exactly 04:37  |  Lynn 03/09/08
      70.   364 Chanah S...best idea yet!!!! 04:43  |