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Palestinians Busy Repairing Gaza Smuggling Tunnels
(Christian Science Monitor) Christa Case Bryant - Egypt's crackdown on tunnels used by smugglers in Gaza have wrecked havoc on its economy. Unemployment has risen to more than double that of the West Bank. At the same time, costs are rising steeply. Since Egypt's crackdown in August, cement prices have nearly tripled. Dependent on taxes on tunnels for half its revenues, Hamas is now virtually insolvent. At first glance, the Gaza-Egypt border still appears to be humming, with dozens of Palestinian tunnelers working tirelessly. The workers are not busy transporting goods, however. They are transferring mud that poured in after Egyptian bombings triggered landslides. "Around 5% of the tunnels are working," says Abu Ahmed, the owner of two tunnels who is overseeing their restoration.