Egypt: Gaza blockade a failure, border stays open

[sabrina 1]

Egypt: Gaza blockade a failure, border stays open

An Egyptian security official declared the blockade of Gaza a failure Monday and said his country will keep its border with the Palestinian territory open indefinitely.

Keeping that crossing point open long term would seriously undercut Israel's efforts to isolate and punish Gaza's Hamas rulers and give the Palestinians back a crucial link to the outside the world.

Egypt opened its border with Gaza soon after Israel's deadly raid on an international flotilla of activists trying to break the blockade last week.

The deaths of the activists has focused the attention of the world on Gaza with most major countries, including Hillary Clinton, saying that the blockade is unsustainable. With Egypt keeping its border open indefinitely, and pressure from almost every country in the world, the U.S. is 'looking for new ways' to try to resolve the situation:

Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement Monday the U.S. is closely consulting with Egypt and other allies to find new ways to "address the humanitarian, economic, security, and political aspects of the situation in Gaza." He spoke in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

> snip The security official said a new policy must be found to end the suffering of the Palestinians, while keeping pressure on Hamas. He spoke Monday on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

The official said Israel is now under pressure to at least open all its land crossings with Gaza. Egypt will keep its border crossing at the town of Rafah open indefinitely but will not allow large cargo or shipments of construction material through because the terminal is designed primarily to be a civilian passage, the official said.

Meanwhile, the U.S. and the family of the young woman who was injured in Israel while protesting the attack on the Flotilla, are demanding an investigation of the incident:



US wants Israeli inquiry after protester loses eye

By DIAA HADID

Associated Press Writer

The United States has asked Israel to investigate the incident in which an American woman lost an eye after Israeli forces shot her with a tear gas canister during a pro-Palestinian protest in Jerusalem, a U.S. embassy spokesman said Monday.

Emily Henochowicz, a 21-year-old visual arts student from Potomac, Md., and a dual Israeli-American citizen, was struck in the face by a canister fired by a policeman during a violent demonstration on May 31 against Israel's deadly naval raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying aid and hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists. Nine activists were killed in the raid on the same day.

>snip "We demand a full and transparent investigation from the Israeli government. Certainly, we want an apology," Henochowicz's mother Shelley Kreitman, 54, said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "She's a beautiful young girl and she's been maimed for life."

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said Israel is fully cooperating with the U.S. request for an investigation but said an apology would be forthcoming only if the inquiry shows Israel was at fault.

Henochowicz, an artist whose chief icon on her Internet blog is a large eyeball, returned to the U.S. over the weekend and couldn't immediately be reached for comment. Her lawyer, Michael Sfar said he filed a complaint demanding a criminal investigation of the incident.

This is so sad. Emily Henochowicz is a talented artist and human rights activist. You can see some of her artwork on her blog which she named Thirsty Pixels

[sabrina 1]

1. It looks like there is hope that Egypt together with the U.S.

will get some cooperation from Israel on easing the restrictions of the blockade.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/07/egypt-gaza-blockade-a-fai_n_602705.html

With international pressure building to ease the blockade, an Egyptian security official said sealing off Hamas-ruled Gaza has only bred more militancy.

So far Israel has not commented publicly on Egypt's decision, but:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled in recent days that he is open to easing the blockade, but cannot allow ships to sail freely into Gaza's port, fearing weapons will reach Hamas militants. Netanyahu's spokesman, Mark Regev, said officials are considering various ideas but declined to elaborate.

That is a reasonable fear. Egypt also is fearful for security reasons. But as Egypt has said, what they have been doing isn't working either.
a
It would go a long way to diffuse the situation and to take away what many observers have called 'a tool to use against Israel' from Hamas.

Anyhow there is a ray of hope that something good may come from the tragedy last week.

[Scurrilous]

2. K & R

:thumbsup:

[saracat]

3. K+R This is signifigant.

[Lilith Velkor]

4. Good.

[Safya]

5. Emily Henochowicz: Thanks

You gave me hope and lesson.

[sabrina 1]

6. Yes, she is an inspiration. She is only 21 but seems so wise

and a really wonderful artist.

[Scurrilous]

7. Mother says daughter still loves Israel despite losing eye at protest

Emily Henochowicz lost an eye at a protest at the Qalandiyah checkpoint - she was struck by a teargas grenade.

<snip>

"Emily Henochowicz returned on Saturday night to her home in Potomac, Maryland, where she is recovering after losing an eye at a protest at the Qalandiyah checkpoint - she was struck by a teargas grenade.

Henochowicz is Jewish, and her father, who is currently a doctor in the United States after having lived in Israel, is the son of Holocaust survivors. The family has visited Israel in the past.

"Her mood ranges from optimistic to sad," Henochowicz's mother Shelly Kreitman told Haaretz. "We want to make clear that she has not stopped loving Israel because of what happened. She said that this should not be an excuse for people to be anti-Semitic or anti-Zionist."

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/mother-says-daughter-still-loves-israel-despite-losing-eye-at-protest-1.295002

[sabrina 1]

8. I think that was obvious, that she loved Israel. And that is why

she wanted them to do what is right. Just like Americans who love their country. Which is why they speak out when their country is doing wrong. Of course the right will always call them anti-American or Anti-Israel, but most people understand that if you love someone or your country, you will not stand by and do nothing when you see them going down the wrong path.

I was hoping her eye could be saved. But it doesn't sound like it will be. Very sad but she sounds like a very strong woman who has a lot of loving support in her life ....

[Safya]

9. Yup

And that is why she is a lesson to every one. I support minority rights in my country Egypt and it doesn't mean I am against my country. That is why although I am against Israel I don't look at her as Anti Israeli person. She is a good person and I hope I can be like her in defending the right thing.

[sabrina 1]

10. Welcome to DU Safya ~

She is a good person and you sound like a good person also. I am not against Israel just against the government there which has done much wrong and has made people very angry at Israel. I think Emily and others want people to know that not all Israelis agree with their government. Just as we here in the U.S. tried to stop the wars started by the Bush administration and did not want the world to think that Bush represented all Americans.

I am glad that Egypt has opened its borders though, that was very good news from your country ~ :-)