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Public Security Minister Avi Dichter. (Tess Scheflan) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 15:42 18/11/2007 Dichter: Egyptians can stop Gaza border smuggling in one hour By Haaretz Service Tags: Egypt, Avi Dichter  Public Security Minister Avi Dichter criticized Egypt on Sunday for not doing enough to stop the weapons smuggling from Sinai into the Gaza Strip. Dichter made the statement while touring the settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip. The minister maintained that the Egyptians could put an end to the smuggling of weapons and supplies into the Gaza Strip across the Egyptian border "within one hour." Advertisement Dichter added that in light of the ongoing smuggling and Egypt's failure to prevent it, a major Israel Defense Forces operation in the Gaza seems inevitable. Defense Minister Ehud Barak made similar remarks several weeks ago, after the situation in the southern Gaza Strip worsened, saying that the IDF was moving closer to an extensive ground action in the Gaza Strip. Last month, Dichter met with Middle East envoy and former British prime minister Tony Blair 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 upcoming regional peace summit, scheduled to take place at the end of this month in Annapolis, Maryland. "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 have also asked their American counterparts to raise the issue with the Egyptians, saying the porous border in Sinai "is becoming a strategic problem." "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." Related articles: Dichter: Egypt capable of halting Gaza arms smuggling within day Report: Barak planning military operation in Gaza within weeks Dichter hints at broadening IDF action after soldier dies in Gaza Bookmark to del.icio.us Bigotry prevails Haaretz.com TV: A new study shows a rise in racism against Israel's Arabs. High and dry Hamas seizes hundreds of pounds of marijuana in Gaza - and burns it in public.   1.   TALK LESS, RETAKE GAZA, SINAI, STOP PATROLLING, LOSING SOLDIERS 13:24  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 18/11/07   2.   THE ANTISEMITIC UNIVERSE 14:06  |  Iskander 18/11/07   3.   Egyptians can stop sarms smuggling 14:43  |  Hilda 18/11/07   4.   name the idiots who agreed to egypt on the border ? 15:06  |  victor hardman 18/11/07   5.   IDF Smuggling weapons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 15:40  |  POP 18/11/07   6.   Iskander = Racist 15:58  |  POP 18/11/07   7.   poppy the righteous 16:26  |  Ernest Graefenburg 18/11/07   8.   Earnest G: Actually, I am a member of the Righteous 16:50  |  POP 18/11/07   9.   AVI DICHTER IS CORRECT 17:24  |  Iskander 18/11/07   10.   POP THE RIGHTEOUS 17:48  |  DON 18/11/07   11.   Re #8, #10 -- tag-team provocateurs? 19:33  |  DJStahl 18/11/07   12.   Dichter: Egyptians can stop Gaza border smuggling in one hour 21:11  |  Martin List,M.D. 18/11/07   13.   What does Dichter respond as to why Egypt strengthens Hamas? 22:37  |  Fortuna Benmayor 20/11/07   14.   For Iskander # 2, who is damn right. 22:41  |  Fortuna Benmayor 20/11/07   15.   EGYPT,our peace partner has let us down 22:07  |  HAL TRIPP 30/11/07   16.   Egypt wants us to bleed ad infinitum 17:58  |  Nora 10/12/07

Today Online Burston: Hamas - If we can kill them, we can talk to them Responses: 31 Russia said trying to lure Russian olim back home Responses: 110 Akiva Eldar: Building in E. J'lem undermines spirit of Annapolis Responses: 63 Religious party leader: Same-sex families undermine Judaism Responses: 49 Military censor: IDF revealed classified data during war Responses: 5 Rosner's Domain Jervis & Cohen discuss the flaws of the Iran NIE The CIA's brain drain (WTR) Poll: Who's your Democratic favorite for 2008? Rosner's Mailbox: military option still ON the table More Headlines 17:38 IDF Censor: Army revealed classified date during war 17:30 Egypt uncovers 500 kilograms of explosives in northern Sinai 17:55 Olmert vows to 'forge historic path' toward peace with Palestinians 17:34 Palestinian PM hopes for $5.6B from donors for economic surge 13:26 Heirs of Holocaust victims could claim up to NIS 200M in assets 16:45 EU: Dual-track approach is the only way to solve Iran nuclear crisis 14:59 Saudis welcome Meshal in bid to broker new Hamas-Fatah talks 13:42 Palestinians make 3 feature films despite no audience, funding 14:53 Teachers disrupt PM speech, vow to defy court injunctions Previous Editions Select Day 09 dec 07 dec 06 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec 30 nov 29 nov 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov

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