Ground Report

The Israeli government may yet save Hamas from its own mistakes !

The essential question, for the US and Israeli governments is to maintain a closed border around Palestine.

The January mass breakout began to loosen this stranglehold, but Hamas in Gaza did not use its options to maintain the Gaza/Egypt border open.

Whether the suicide bomber attack on Dimona was a “Hamas planned” or an uncontrolled act remains an unanswered question

But in any case Dimona allowed the Americans and the Israeli government to shift the emphasis away from the (till then) partially open border and continue the killing/blockade in Gaza.

The “renewed normal” situation was immediately used by mubarak (and his US bosses) to re-close the border.  Mubarak was able to close the Gaza/Egypt border without using major force.

He did not need to use major units of the Egyptian Army, a situation which could have increased resistance inside this army.

While the Israeli-US policy is tied into keeping Palestinians locked up, the essential question for Mubarak is how long can he maintain his control over the Egyptian Army while openly operating as an American and Israeli “servant”?

The massive Israeli attack on Gaza may again change the “facts on the ground”.

Egypt admits wounded Gazan
Mon, 03 Mar 2008 04:22:27
              Rafah border crossing
Egypt has unsealed Rafah border crossing to let Palestinians wounded in an Israeli attack in Gaza cross into for medical care.

“It is inconceivable for Egypt not to extend a hand of aid and assistance to its Palestinian brothers, especially the wounded among them, who have been falling in recent days during brutal Israeli military operations,” Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Egyptian security sources at the Rafah border crossing said at least 40 wounded Palestinian civilians crossed into Egypt on Sunday.

Egyptian security sources said Egypt had not set a limit on how many Palestinians would be allowed in. North Sinai Governor Ahmed Abdel Hamid said he expected the number of wounded Palestinians entering Egypt would exceed 200.

Hospitals in the northern Sinai were on alert and state news agency MENA said some wounded would be taken to Cairo for treatment.

Israeli forces killed 61 people, nearly half of them civilians, in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Saturday, the bloodiest single day for Palestinians since the 1980s. Two Israeli soldiers were also killed fighting Gaza activists. http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=45629&sectionid=351020202