It appears that the Egyptians are either serious about putting an end to the smuggling of munitions and weapons into Gaza via the smuggling tunnels along the Gaza border OR they are intent on making it a lot tougher for the palestinians to breach their border and enter Egypt - lemme see...I'll pick the latter case. In any event, German security experts are due in Egypt to advise on border security - I guess the guys that used to have the Berlin Wall must be seen as the go to types, huh? Here's some of the story from The Earth Times:
Now, I think Egypt is going to spin this to say that they are unilaterally attending to the Israeli concerns about the Egypt/Gaza border but in essence, I truly believe that after the in-fighting that has broken out between Egypt and Hamas and Hezbollah and even Iran...that the Egyptians want to literally seal that border to avert any attacks from Hamas inside of Gaza. You just KNOW that Hamas already has plans to make Egypt pay for taking the hard line stance against them.
Technical experts from Germany's federal police and interior ministry are to travel to Egypt in thecoming days to help Egypt secure its border with the Gaza Strip, the state secretary in the ministry said late Tuesday. August Hanning said the move would fulfill a request from the Egyptian government "to support securing Egypt's border area with German expertise."
One of Israel's key demands for a ceasefire of its 18-day offensive into Gaza is destruction or closure of the tunnels underneath the Egyptian border used to smuggle weapons into Gaza for the militant Hamas. Israel charges the rockets, which have an increasingly long reach into Israel, are supplied by Iran and smuggled across the Egyptian border.
Now, I think Egypt is going to spin this to say that they are unilaterally attending to the Israeli concerns about the Egypt/Gaza border but in essence, I truly believe that after the in-fighting that has broken out between Egypt and Hamas and Hezbollah and even Iran...that the Egyptians want to literally seal that border to avert any attacks from Hamas inside of Gaza. You just KNOW that Hamas already has plans to make Egypt pay for taking the hard line stance against them.
German experts to advise Egypt on securing Gaza border
Berlin - Technical experts from Germany's federal police and interior ministry are to travel to Egypt in thecoming days to help Egypt secure its border with the Gaza Strip, the state secretary in the ministry said late Tuesday. August Hanning said the move would fulfill a request from the Egyptian government "to support securing Egypt's border area with German expertise."
One of Israel's key demands for a ceasefire of its 18-day offensive into Gaza is destruction or closure of the tunnels underneath the Egyptian border used to smuggle weapons into Gaza for the militant Hamas. Israel charges the rockets, which have an increasingly long reach into Israel, are supplied by Iran and smuggled across the Egyptian border.
Details of the German mission were not available. Sources close to the ministry said it could involve advice on either stopping the smuggling or setting up controls in the hinterland.
Active police help was not planned.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier indicated during his weekend visit to the Middle East that professionals from Germany's police and customs departments would travel to the region within the current week.
The German government has also declared its readiness to participate in an international peacekeeping operation.
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