January 28, 2008
GOVERNANCE IMPOSES RESPONSIBILITIES:
Fatah: Hamas must not have border role (Mark Tran, January 28, 2008, Guardian Unlimited)
Hamas must not have a role in running the border between Gaza and Egypt, the Fatah faction said today.The demand came as Hamas Islamists helped Egyptian troops to restore order and seal the border at the town of Rafah.
As Fatah voiced concern over Hamas involvement in border security, Egyptian troops strung barbed wire across the entry point and were assisted by half a dozen uniformed Hamas members.
Hamas militants also stopped civilian cars entering Egypt from Gaza at the main Salah Eddin crossing, allowing only lorries to go through and buy products.
Taking control of the border is a nice illustration of why Hamas should be saddled with more official power. Posted by Orrin Judd at January 28, 2008 7:52 AM
"Half a dozen uniformed Hamas members"
Versus 700,000 people who have crossed the border in the past 6 days. A nice gesture.
And of course they are stopping cars - the Egyptians have used cattle prods on any personal vehicles trying to get through. Shocking, I say!
Posted by: ratbert at January 28, 2008 6:24 PMActually, your larger point is correct - forcing Hamas to govern is probably the only thing (short of regime change in Syria) that will move things in Gaza. The Egyptians will probably close the border for good in a few days - once Olmert relents a bit more.
But Hamas is too addicted to the terror and the street theater. And to Israeli diesel fuel, medicine, and water.
Posted by: ratbert at January 28, 2008 11:11 PMThere's been virtually no terrorism since Hamas took over. The extremists went to Syria. The ones who stayed believe in governing the new state.
Posted by: oj at January 29, 2008 7:33 AM