|
Israel wants to cut Gaza links
24/01/2008 22:42 - (SA)
Jerusalem - Israel wants to cut its links
with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip after militants blasted
open the territory's border with Egypt in defiance of an Israeli
blockade, Israel's deputy defence minister said on Thursday.
Israel, which occupied the Gaza Strip in 1967, pulled troops
and settlers out in 2005 but still controls its northern and
eastern borders, airspace and coastal waters, and has imposed a
blockade it says is meant to counter militant rocket fire.
Deputy Defence Minister Matan Vilnai said Israel wanted to
wash its hands of Gaza altogether by handing over the supply of
electricity, water and medicine to others. An Israeli security
official said Egypt should take over responsibility.
"We need to understand that when Gaza is open to the other
side we lose responsibility for it. So we want to disconnect
from it," Vilnai said. Gazans stream into Egypt
Hundreds of Gazans on Thursday streamed past the flattened
border wall into Egypt on foot or donkeys to stock up on goods
in short supply, including sheep, motorcycles and medicine.
US Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns said Washington
was in touch with Cairo about the border and was willing to work
with Egyptian authorities to restore order there, although he
did not provide details on how that should be achieved.
"Our view is that order should be restored to the border,"
Burns told reporters in Jerusalem, adding that services should
quickly be re-established to Gaza's 1.5 million residents.
A spokesperson for Hamas rejected Vilnai's disengagement idea as an attempt to
separate Gaza from the occupied West Bank.
Egypt declined to comment on the proposal. When asked what
Cairo planned to do about the border, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hossam Zaki said the situation was "temporary" and that "every
option is under consideration". Prices leap five-fold
Hundreds of Gazans shuttled back and forth to Egypt for a
second day on Thursday. Some dragged sheep back over the border
and a Hamas spokesperson said they had paid 16 000
government employees early so they could go shopping.
Prices in Rafah leapt five-fold. In Gaza City, prices that
had shot higher due to shortages eased back and previously
depleted market stalls in Gaza City were piled high with goods.
The streets of Gaza City were quiet.
"Almost the entire population of Gaza are on vacation in
Egypt," said Khaled Ali, a Palestinian policeman guarding the
hole in the fence.
|
News
