Opening Its Gaza Border, Egypt Pulls the Plug on Israel's Failed Strategy

[P F Tinmore]

It might have been easy, amid the raucous cheering at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Capitol Hill pep rally on Tuesday, for Israelis to ignore President Obama's earlier warning of a gathering storm on Israel's horizon. But Wednesday's announcement that Egypt plans, on Saturday, to effectively end the siege of Gaza by permanently opening the Rafah border crossing brought home the harsh truth of Israel's increasingly isolated position.

Opening Its Gaza Border, Egypt Pulls the Plug on Israel's Failed Strategy - Yahoo! News

 

[SergeGainsbourg]

It might have been easy, amid the raucous cheering at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Capitol Hill pep rally on Tuesday, for Israelis to ignore President Obama's earlier warning of a gathering storm on Israel's horizon. But Wednesday's announcement that Egypt plans, on Saturday, to effectively end the siege of Gaza by permanently opening the Rafah border crossing brought home the harsh truth of Israel's increasingly isolated position.

Opening Its Gaza Border, Egypt Pulls the Plug on Israel's Failed Strategy - Yahoo! News

I'm not sure if it is a failed strategy. The strategy was to isolate Gaza while building economic success in the west bank in order to present a clear choice. This happened to a certain extent. Moreover, Hamas has learned to stop firing rockets at Israel.

Obviously, Hamas will have more resources to attack Israel with now that Rafah is open, but it also faces they people whom they govern who care more about developing the Gazan economy than fighting a war with a past occupier. One could argue that the blockade helped cement the view that it is time to move on from conflict with Israel. Especially now with a government in Egypt that is more friendly to the interests of Gaza.

 

[bluemoon22]

have returned to side with their Arab brothers and sisters being oppressed by the European and American Zionists in their homeland...

 

[docmauser1]

have returned to side with their Arab brothers and sisters being oppressed by the European and American Zionists in their homeland...

Daily crossing is limited to 400 gazistanians with a list of those 400 to be submitted in advance with no guarantee of approval for anyone on it, of course.