Egypt's wall of shame against Gaza

[Al-khiyal]

Egypt building iron wall on Gaza border to stop smuggling

December 9, 2009 -- Egypt has begun the construction of a massive iron wall along its border with the Gaza Strip, in a bid to shut down smuggling tunnels into the territory. The wall will be nine to 10 kilometers long, and will go 20 to 30 meters into the ground, Egyptian sources said. It will be impossible to cut or melt. The new plan is the latest move by Egypt to step up its counter-smuggling efforts. Although some progress had been made, the smuggling market in Gaza still flourishes. Egyptian forces demolish tunnels or fill them with gas almost every week, often with people still inside them, and Palestinian casualties in the tunnels have been steadily rising. Recently, Egypt examined several possibilities of blocking the tunnels, and joint American-Egyptian patrols have been seen in Rafah attempting to detect tunnels using underground sensors. Construction of the wall has already begun. It will be made of enormous slates of steel, reaching deep into the ground. However, it is not expected to stem smuggling completely. Several defense sources told Haaretz they believe that once captive soldier Gilad Shalit is released, Israel will have to re-examine the benefits of closing Gaza off. The closure has been undermined by the tunnel system, which provides not only munitions but food, cars, motorcycles, drugs, medicine and fuel, much more than what Israel allows into the Strip through the official border crossing. The tunnels also allow people to cross in and out of the Strip, including terrorists who linked up with pro-Al-Qaida groups in Gaza and tried to carry out attacks in Egypt, defense sources said. The smuggling industry is so institutionalized that tunnel operators purchase licenses from the Rafah municipality, allowing them to connect to electricity and water. Hamas has also been ensuring no children are employed in the tunnels, and is taxing all smuggled goods. The Egyptians often intercept munitions before they can enter the Strip and have stepped up checks at internal roadblocks and checkpoints in the Sinai. Observers say mounting American pressure is in part responsible for increasing Egyptian efforts to combat the smugglers.

[Al-khiyal]

Egypt erecting U.S.-made wall to thwart Gaza smuggling

December 9, 2009 -- To cut smuggling tunnels into the Gaza Strip, Egypt is installing an impenetrable U.S.-made metal wall that will stretch about seven miles and extend nearly 60 feet deep, the BBC is reporting. The wall was designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is bomb proof and cannot be cut or melted, the BBC says, citing intelligence sources in Egypt. About two miles have been installed so far along an existing perimeter fence; the entire wall will be finished in 18 months. No comment from the Egyptian government, the BBC says. Scores of tunnels have been dug to circumvent an Israeli blockade of Gaza. Smugglers bring everyday goods, people, livestock and building materials, but also guns, explosives and missile components that are used against Israel. The new wall won't stop smuggling but will force Palestinians to dig much deeper.

[lillyinlondon]

Egypt erecting U.S.-made wall to thwart Gaza smuggling

December 9, 2009 -- To cut smuggling tunnels into the Gaza Strip, Egypt is installing an impenetrable U.S.-made metal wall that will stretch about seven miles and extend nearly 60 feet deep, the BBC is reporting. The wall was designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is bomb proof and cannot be cut or melted, the BBC says, citing intelligence sources in Egypt. About two miles have been installed so far along an existing perimeter fence; the entire wall will be finished in 18 months. No comment from the Egyptian government, the BBC says. Scores of tunnels have been dug to circumvent an Israeli blockade of Gaza. Smugglers bring everyday goods, people, livestock and building materials, but also guns, explosives and missile components that are used against Israel. The new wall won't stop smuggling but will force Palestinians to dig much deeper.

yes amazing what some will do and what they will do when the price is right ,,,,,,,

[Tipaza]

Les Egyptiens sont connus pour le soutien sans faille à la cause palstinienne, n'est-ce pas ?

[lillyinlondon]

Les Egyptiens sont connus pour le soutien sans faille à la cause palstinienne, n'est-ce pas ?

as you like they normally go where the price is right ummah/ikwan dont factor into their priniciples normally. money does

[amalgamate]

ya 7aramashoom on the Egyption govt instead of opening their doors to serve their brothers food/clothes/medicine after being obliterated by the israelis, they bar and shun them with American-made steel walls

[Al-khiyal]

Egypt denies building iron wall on Gaza border: report

CAIRO, December 10, 2009 (Xinhua) -- Egypt denied building an anti-smuggling underground iron wall on its border with the Gaza Strip, local Al-Shorouk daily reported Thursday. "Egypt is dealing with smuggling seriously and capable of stopping it without this wall," the report quoted a security source as saying. Earlier, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported that Egyptian engineers were carrying out major excavation work at the Gaza border on Wednesday as an anti-smuggling barrier was under construction. According to Haaretz, the assumed wall will extend 20 to 30 meters underground in a bid to block the smuggling from Egypt to Gaza. Egypt beefed up security measures along its border with the Hamas-run Gaza Strip to combat smuggling to the Israeli-blockaded enclave.