[Middle East Strategy at Harvard] Martin Kramer - "This may be a blessing in disguise," an Israeli official said of the destruction by Hamas of a chunk of the border barrier separating Gaza from Egypt. An open border effectively absolves Israel of responsibility for the well-being of Gaza's population, and may prompt Israel to sever its remaining infrastructure and supply links to Gaza. A large part of the responsibility for Gaza would be shifted from Israel to Egypt. There were 350,000 Palestinians in Gaza in 1967. Now there are 1.3 million, who are pushing against the envelope of Gaza's narrow borders with growing force. Israel has the power and the resolve to push back. Egypt just doesn't, which is why the envelope burst where it did.
2008-01-25 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive