2008 Woodie Awards
Israel eases blockade on Gaza Strip
Joanna Bernstein
Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: World
Palestinian consumer activity in Egypt is problematic for both Egypt and Israel since Egypt is committed to a peace treaty and security operation with Israel.
"Egypt doesn't want Hamas on its borders any more than Israel does," Gilmore said. "Shoppers are good, political insurgents are not."
According to The New York Times, Hamas has been somewhat successful in ITS efforts on the Gaza Strip.
Hamas' creation of a border crisis after Israel extended its import restrictions to Gaza in another failed effort to stop rocket and mortar fire into Israel, managed to divert criticism of its management of Gaza.
According to foreign policy experts, with Hamas momentarily out of the limelight in regards to this conflict, and Egypt under pressure to secure its borders, chances of Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas reaching a peace treaty seem even less likely.
Without any sign of resolution in sight for these rival countries, both Israel and Palestine have other problems on their hands.
First, Israel has been blamed for the border crises that erupted between Gaza and Egypt. This criticism may compromise Olmert's position and lead to new elections for prime minister to be held as early as spring 2009.
Second, according to The New York Times, the Egyptian government said that it preferred that Mahmoud Abbas take control of the breached border between Gaza and Egypt. Since Hamas took control of Gaza from Abbas and his government in June, there will most likely be resistance on Hamas' part when Abbas attempts to control the border.
Still, in the midst of these multitudes of conflicts, many Israelis and Palestinians have managed to put their political and religious differences aside and unite for peace.
Eyad Sarraj, founder of the Gaza Community Mental Health Program, told Al-Jazeera news that the death of an Israeli citizen is no better or worse than the death of a Palestinian citizen.
Sarraj said, "Every drop of blood shed in Israel or Palestine is a crime against humanity that has to be prevented."
"Egypt doesn't want Hamas on its borders any more than Israel does," Gilmore said. "Shoppers are good, political insurgents are not."
According to The New York Times, Hamas has been somewhat successful in ITS efforts on the Gaza Strip.
Hamas' creation of a border crisis after Israel extended its import restrictions to Gaza in another failed effort to stop rocket and mortar fire into Israel, managed to divert criticism of its management of Gaza.
According to foreign policy experts, with Hamas momentarily out of the limelight in regards to this conflict, and Egypt under pressure to secure its borders, chances of Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas reaching a peace treaty seem even less likely.
Without any sign of resolution in sight for these rival countries, both Israel and Palestine have other problems on their hands.
First, Israel has been blamed for the border crises that erupted between Gaza and Egypt. This criticism may compromise Olmert's position and lead to new elections for prime minister to be held as early as spring 2009.
Second, according to The New York Times, the Egyptian government said that it preferred that Mahmoud Abbas take control of the breached border between Gaza and Egypt. Since Hamas took control of Gaza from Abbas and his government in June, there will most likely be resistance on Hamas' part when Abbas attempts to control the border.
Still, in the midst of these multitudes of conflicts, many Israelis and Palestinians have managed to put their political and religious differences aside and unite for peace.
Eyad Sarraj, founder of the Gaza Community Mental Health Program, told Al-Jazeera news that the death of an Israeli citizen is no better or worse than the death of a Palestinian citizen.
Sarraj said, "Every drop of blood shed in Israel or Palestine is a crime against humanity that has to be prevented."
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