Good news. Egypt permanently opened its border with Gaza today after four years of cooperation with the Israeli closure. This is an early indication that the Egyptian pro-democracy forces will influence their new rulers to retreat from the Israel- friendly policies of Hosni Mubarak. Gazans will now be able to travel freely to Egypt and receive much needed humanitarian aid.
Strange news? Kadima, the main opposition party in Israel, implausibly attempted to make political gain by blaming Prime Minister Netanyahu for the border opening, which it claims is a “national disaster.” According to the daily, Ha’aretz, Kadima stated “Netanyahu’s government talks a hard line against Hamas, but in reality during the time of its leadership, Hamas has become stronger than it has ever been in the past.”
I guess you cannot be tough enough for some Israelis.
This development appears to open up the possibility that the international flotilla, which is scheduled to sail to Gaza at the end of June, may decide to go to Egypt instead and then continue by land, entering Gaza through Rafah. Taking this alternate route would avoid confrontation with the Israeli navy and also demonstrate solidarity with the new Egyptian border policy.
