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Border games By Zvi Bar'el If Israel rejects Hamas' terms for a cease-fire, then Cairo will consider unilaterally opening its border with the besieged Gaza Strip, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said yesterday. In an interview with Al-Jazeera, Abu Zuhri said Hamas' proposal was drawn up with Egypt, which allegedly guaranteed it would be implemented. Whether Egypt actually made any such guarantees to Hamas over the cease-fire is of little importance. What matters is that Hamas made Cairo responsible for opening its border crossing with the Gaza Strip. If it fails to do so, Hamas may stage a storming of the border like the one that took place in January. If Egypt opens the border unilaterally, however, it will precipitate a crisis with Israel. Advertisement Hamas is banking on the Arab public coming to its aid in the event of a border breach. Yesterday speakers at a Hamas-organized protest in Gaza threatened to punch a hole through the re-erected fences. To prevent a repeat of a border storming, Egypt is undertaking huge efforts to bring about a cease-fire. It has promised Israel it will enforce inspection of goods entering Gaza through the crossing, but will not allow the presence of any Israeli officials or surveillance equipment. After all its efforts, Cairo would consider Israel's rejection of the proposal a slap in the face. Opening the border between Gaza and Egypt will allow Hamas to reestablish its standing in Gaza. In addition, it will also create a new balance of power in the region. Such a balance may not necessary work against Israel and Egypt, as it will also require Hamas to abide by the rules expected of governments. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Survivors and pioneers Yad Vashem exhibit shows how Holocaust survivors helped shape Israel's identity Researching bacon Lahav's pig breeding gained widespread notoriety because of its legal loophole.

Read & React U.S. irate after Israeli envoy to UN brands Carter 'a bigot' Responses: 292 Israel: Gaza truce hinges on Hamas control over Jihad Responses: 67 Avraham Burg: Jonathan Pollard is America's Vanunu Responses: 68 Report: Hezbollah man says new attack on Israel is question of 'when, not if' Responses: 191 More Headlines 01:50 Israel: UNIFIL is hiding information about Hezbollah from Security Council 22:18 Netanyahu: PM promised Golan to Syria before talks ever began 01:39 State prosecutor likely to appeal Benizri sentence 00:11 MK Ariel: Arabs should be urged to willingly emigrate from Israel 22:56 IAF Chief: Hitler wasn't believed, we can't make that mistake with Ahmadinejad 21:32 Exhibit shows how Holocaust survivors helped shape Israel's identity 21:01 On Israel's only Jewish-run pig farm, it's the swine that bring home the bacon 01:48 Katsav's lawyers want police to investigate main complainant 17:05 Assad: Facility Israel bombed in September was not nuclear 19:38 Experts recommend nullifying law granting mothers automatic custody 15:04 Rightist editor: Olmert and Livni should be executed for treason 22:45 Hamas urges Palestinian fuel association to end strike in Gaza Previous Editions Select Day 27 apr 25 apr 24 apr 23 apr 22 apr 21 apr 20 apr 18 apr 17 apr 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr

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