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EU envoy: Gaza Strip could turn into Somalia By Barak Ravid Israel's policies in the Gaza Strip are likely to turn the territory into Somalia, European Union special envoy to the Middle East Marc Otte told Haaretz yesterday in an interview. "Israel's tactics in the Gaza Strip did not work," Otte said. "The blockade and the sanctions against the population failed, and only strengthened Hamas and weakened [Prime Minister Salam] Fayyad and [Abbas] Abu Mazen." Advertisement Otte added that "the implications of Israeli activity may be that Gaza becomes Somalia." This week Otte met with senior Egyptian officials in Cairo to discuss the breached border of the Gaza Strip along the Philadelphi Route. Her then came to Israel for talks with Defense and Foreign Ministry officials. Otte expressed concern that Israel is still uncertain how to deal with the new situation that has emerged along the border, and described some of the ideas the Egyptians are proposing for resolving the crisis."There has been a significant change in the Egyptian appreciation of the severity of the problem at Rafah," Otte said. Otte says that President Hosni Mubarak and Egypt's Intelligence Chief, Omar Suleiman, are interested in a "package deal" that will bring about a more general settlement to the border situation between Israel and Egypt, and Israel and the Gaza Strip. According to the Egyptian plan, there would be a renewed opening of the Rafah crossing along the lines of the previous agreement, intensive efforts to curb smuggling, and Israeli support for Fayyad's plan to transfer control over the Karni and Sufa crossings to the Palestinian Authority.The EU envoy says that Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip was central to the breach in the border by Hamas. "The pressure on the population did not cause them to throw Hamas to the sea," he said. "The blockade and its results did not harm Hamas, only made things more complex for Israel and Egypt and created unnecessary tension between the two states." "It is time for Israel to decide what it wants to do," Otte said. "I believe that Israel needs to agree to the Fayyad plan, because this will put the pressure on Hamas, forcing them to decide whether to continue preventing the opening of the crossings. "Israel needs to understand that it will not get anything better than Salam Fayyad. I understand that the army and the Shin Bet are worried about security in the short term, but they must look a little forward and this is the role of the leadership," Otte said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Baghdad, Interrupted Movie star Angelina Jolie takes on Iraq as UN goodwill ambassador. Unwanted praise Hezbollah leader Nasrallah compliments on the Winograd Committee report.

Today Online Seven Gazans killed in IDF raid; 7 Qassams hit Negev Responses: 149 Barak vows harsher IDF response to Qassam fire Responses: 211 Senator: U.S. to shun UN racism meet over anti-Israel agenda Responses: 164 Egyptian FM: Whoever breaks border will have his legs broken Responses: 94 Vatican rejects criticism of new prayer for conversion of Jews Responses: 254 More Headlines 01:35 Major IDF operation in Gaza back on the agenda 01:50 IDF kills 8 Palestinians; Israel drops electricity supply to Gaza 21:50 Hamas rejects Abbas proposal to broker cease-fire with Israel 20:59 Mideast envoy Blair says PA starting to abide by 'road map' 21:27 Egyptian FM: Whoever breaks border will have his legs broken 19:27 Man credited with saving Jews in WWII to repay survivor he allegedly swindled 23:19 Romney quits U.S. presidential race, takes shot at Europe 20:12 Qatar PM sues Kuwaiti paper which criticized his ties to Israel 19:21 Angelina Jolie visits Baghdad to highlight plight of Iraqi refugees 18:34 Colombian defense minister says ties with Israel are strong 18:35 Israel intercepts W. Bank-bound truck loaded with explosive material 01:55 Hamas confiscates humanitarian aid trucks sent to Gaza from Jordan 23:13 Haifa, T.A. domestic airports suspend plans halt weekend civil aviation Previous Editions Select Day 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan

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