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Last update - 22:28 14/02/2008 Hamas delegation visits Egypt, demands Rafah crossing be reopened By The Associated Press Tags: Gaza, Egypt, Mahmoud Zahar A top Hamas delegation crossed into Egypt on Thursday and met with Egyptian officials wanting to make clear that no further breaches of its border with the Gaza Strip will be tolerated, a security official said. The Hamas delegation, led by Gaza strongman Mahmoud Zahar came at the Egyptian request, after they received reports that the Islamist organization was planning to forcibly reopen the borders again at the end of the month, the official said speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject. Ahead of the meeting, the official said that the Egyptians planned on telling Hamas bluntly that the old self-restraint manner is over and that Egyptian security guards have been given orders to open fire on any Palestinians trying to cross the border. Advertisement A Hamas official in the Gaza Strip said that a meeting with the Egyptians was over the future mechanisms for operating the border crossing to allow goods and passengers to travel between Gaza and Egypt freely without restrictions. Officials from both sides refused to disclose details of the outcome of the meeting, which lasted for more than two hours. A security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, only said that Hamas kept pushing for the reopening of the Rafah crossing and insisted that Israeli and European monitors should not interfere if this happens. Hamas wants a role in controlling the border crossing with Egypt, while the international community has affirmed its support for a 2005 agreement involving European and Israeli monitors and not the Islamist organization. The meeting was to take place at the heavily guarded Swiss Inn hotel in el-Arish, some 45 kilometers from the border, and was also to involve negotiations over the opening of Rafah crossing, the official added. Hamas blew open the sealed border with Egypt on Jan 23, letting hundreds of thousands of Palestinians break out of the blockaded Gaza. While President Hosni Mubarak gave orders to allow Palestinians to cross, the wounding of Egyptian soldiers by Palestinian militants strained relations with Hamas and after reclosing the border, Egypt's foreign minister threatened to break the legs of any Palestinian crossing illegally. Hamas had responded by saying that they would breach the border again if the blockade continues. Related articles: Barak says ministerial calls for action in Gaza are 'dangerous' Fatah undergoing major democratic reform to compete with Hamas, Fayyad Sderot as Stalingrad, Hamas as blind Samson U.S. pushes Israel to accept proposed Egypt border deal Bookmark to del.icio.us   Seeking refuge 123 Sudanese refugees infiltrate Israel from Egypt overnight. Bracing for terror Israel, U.S. fear retaliatory strikes after killing of Mughniyah.   1.   Egypt and the Arab refugees. 16:13  |  Jean Van Daem 14/02/08   2.   Hamas would love to have weak Abbas protect the border with Egypt 17:23  |  Avi 14/02/08   3.   Suleiman 20:09  |  Paul 14/02/08   4.   ISRAELI POSTS 21:25  |  J. Schaefer 14/02/08   5.   turn your back on hamas 21:52  |  yo 14/02/08   6.   Egypt should kick those terrorists back to Gaza. 02:03  |  Stephen. 15/02/08   7.   The Only Reason for Hamas to Breach the Border... 02:22  |  Reader 15/02/08   8.   TO STEPHEN #6 02:36  |  Egyptian Arab 15/02/08   9.   You can`t say they`re all terrorists though 03:00  |  Egyptian Arab 15/02/08   10.   Avi, unfortunately, I think you`re right 04:42  |  MaryRose 15/02/08   11.   yo, the song remains the same 04:46  |  MaryRose 15/02/08   12.   Screw Loose Delegation making Idiot Demands 07:03  |  The Archives 15/02/08   13.   egypt should simply slap this `strongman` around 18:11  |  frenz 15/02/08   14.   Where is my post hear 17:42  |  Cristo 16/02/08

Today Online Report: 50,000 Hezbollah men deploy in southern Lebanon Responses: 227 Israel: We know how to deal with threats by Hezbollah Responses: 118 Palestinians: Ailing woman dies after IDF denies her access to ambulance Responses: 197 Editorial: As with Mughniyah, killing terrorists sometimes unavoidable Responses: 187 Zvi Bar'el: Roiled Hezbollah chief throws down the gauntlet Responses: 115 Roi Ben-Yehuda: If U.K. rejects sharia law, beit din will face same fate Responses: 94 Rosner's Domain Clinton's peace team: the attacks on Rob Malley "vicious" (WTR) Brzezinski in Israel (WTR) Most blatant example of Israeli interference in American election The U.S. and Mughniyah / Not just 'who' but also 'where' Poll: Was killing Mughniyah both justified and wise? More Headlines 15:33 Report: PM to declare soldiers abducted by Hezbollah dead 15:51 Report: 50,000 Hezbollah men deploy along border with Israel 10:11 Top Islamic Jihad militant, seven others killed in Gaza blast 14:42 Hamas airs confessions of Fatah members in plot to kill Haniyeh 15:09 Lebanese PM: 'Open war' on Israel would harm Hezbollah 00:59 Sarkozy defends Holocaust education proposal amid uproar 17:40 Former SS guard extradited to Italy begins serving life sentence 17:16 Free press watchdog slams Arab media 'charter' as bid for censorship 11:41 Eritrean refugee killed trying to enter Israel illegally from Egypt 07:12 Islamic Movement blames Israel for quake-induced hole on Temple Mt. 07:26 U.S. meets Iranian officials to discuss 'terror' funds 01:54 Hezbollah chief's threats raise alarm among Jewish groups worldwide Previous Editions Select Day 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb

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