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The Rafah border crossing, on the Egypt-Gaza border. (AP) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 14:06 15/10/2007 Egypt denies indifference toward arms smuggling into Gaza Strip By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service Egypt denies Public Security Minister Avi Dichter's claims that it could do more to prevent arms smuggling into Gaza, Israel Radio reports. Dichter told the international Quartet's Middle East envoy Tony Blair Friday that Egypt could halt the flow of weapons from the Sinai Peninsula into the Gaza Strip in a single day. An Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Dichter's accusations are a "common manipulation." Dichter and Blair met to discuss a strongly worded message Israel sent to the United States complaining that the weapons smuggling and entry of militants from Egypt into the Gaza Strip was threatening the scheduled Annapolis regional peace conference. Advertisement "We must fight the weapons smuggling from Sinai," Dichter told Blair during their meeting. "Egypt could stop the weapons smuggling within one day if it only wanted to." Senior Israeli political figures said Thursday that in talks with their American counterparts, they stressed that the porous border in Sinai "is becoming a strategic problem" and asked them to raise the issue with the Egyptians. "The smuggling of weapons and terrorist experts from Sinai to the Gaza Strip through the Philadelphi Route poses a real threat to the holding of the Annapolis conference," the message read. The Israelis also expressed their frustration about Egyptian behavior vis-a-vis Hamas, both in terms of the ease of smuggling and also politically, in view of Cairo's calls for Fatah and Hamas to renew negotiations for a unity government. "Egypt is working against everything we are all trying to achieve," senior Israeli officials told the Americans. "We are organizing a summit to further the diplomatic process under the banner 'strengthening Abu Mazen' [Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas], and they are strengthening Hamas." Israeli officials told the Americans that "the smuggling is taking place to undermine the general effort to restart the diplomatic process." The Egyptian spokesman said that it is not a coincidence that Israel's criticism comes shortly before the American Congress convenes to approve next year's foreign aid to Egypt. Bookmark to del.icio.us Part of Jerusalem? PM Olmert questions whether Arab neighborhoods should be defined as part of the capital. Who is a Jew? Israel's draft constitution states that 'every Jew is entitled to immigrate to Israel.'   1.   Arms to Palestine! 11:37  |  Hannah 15/10/07   2.   21st century trends 11:39  |  Natallie Durson 15/10/07   3.   Pals should arm themselves and rightly so 12:05  |  Sam (UK) 15/10/07   4.   End occupation now 12:22  |  Refugee 15/10/07   5.   to Hannah 12:41  |  Judah N. Wenkel 15/10/07   6.   fantastic four 12:57  |  belal 15/10/07   7.   # 1 hannah 13:16  |  Lynn 15/10/07   8.   belal 13:35  |  Mark T 15/10/07   9.   to belal & N. Durson 14:04  |  Judah N. Wenkel 15/10/07   10.   NO PLO STATE 14:08  |  BOB KING 15/10/07   11.   Mark T, you are a legend 14:16  |  Refugee 15/10/07   12.   Refugee #11 14:30  |  Mark T 15/10/07   13.   EGYPTIAN DENIAL:IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL BELIEVE ANYTHING 14:34  |  Ian 15/10/07   14.   -Mark T, -You`re RIGHT ! 14:43  |  Judah N. Wenkel 15/10/07   15.   Arms to Palestinians! And legs and brains and... 15:09  |  Richard S 15/10/07   16.   Belal 15:11  |  millie 15/10/07   17.   #1-4...really? 15:22  |  DR 15/10/07   18.   Crazy Hannah Alert (aka SnottyNose),#14, 22, 220, 2220 15:51  |  Hannah 15/10/07   19.   ISrael MUST be eliminated ! 17:09  |  HAnnah 15/10/07   20.   To Hannah #1 18:16  |  Rolandus 15/10/07   21.   EGYPT COULD TOTALLY STOP ARMS SMUGGLING 18:19  |  Kooky Dennt 15/10/07   22.   attacking Egypt is not a good thing to do 18:52  |  john 15/10/07   23.   #20, Joseph 19:03  |  Hannah 15/10/07   24.   TO HANNAH THE ANTISEMIT 19:18  |  Iskander 15/10/07

Today Online Editorial: Hail Rice for paving the way for dividing the land Responses: 2 Daniel Ben Simon: Once-moderate Shas moves to extreme right Send response Polish rightist party slammed for anti-Semitic campaign ad Responses: 13 Likud urges Shas, Lieberman to quit gov't over PM's J'lem hints Responses: 9 Haaretz.com TV: Despite lobby's power, U.S. Jews are losing their bond to Israel Responses: 90 Rosner's Domain * Rice "understand risks to announcing a meeting" (WTR) * Guest: How to stop Hamas from spoiling Annapolis? * McCain is the pro-peace process GOP candidate * Poll: Is Rice's effort brave, pathetic, realistic, dangerous? More Headlines 10:24 Report: Swap gives Israel papers with Arad's writing 09:22 Two Palestinians, including one militant, killed in IDF Nablus raid 06:35 ANALYSIS: Israel, Hezbollah need no trust building measures 06:53 Likud urges Shas, Lieberman to quit gov't over PM's 'intention' 07:01 Cartoon spat prompts Shas to quit Knesset religious lobby 06:43 Abductees' families cautiously optimistic over Hezbollah deal 03:56 Balad activist murdered on doorstep of his business in Lod 05:32 Justice Minister orders drafting of bill limiting length of criminal probes 06:15 Medical students prefer not to intern in Israel's periphery 23:17 Polish right-wing party accused of running anti-Semitic campaign ad Previous Editions Select Day 15 oct 14 oct 12 oct 11 oct 10 oct 09 oct 08 oct 07 oct 05 oct 04 oct 03 oct 02 oct

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