The US bribes Egypt with $1.3 billion in military aid each year. In exchange for this American "foreign aid", Egypt is required to maintain peaceful relations with Israel. Cutting off this bribe money completely would probably result in a democratically elected government hostile to the US and Israel.
Recently Israel has been pulling the strings of American politicians they own to threaten the size of Egypt's bribe. The problem is that for some time now, arms and militants have been flowing to Gaza through Egypt via an elaborate smuggling network. This network was probably a factor in Hamas ousting Fatah from Gaza. Now that Hamas rules Gaza and benefits directly from the smuggling, the rate of militants and arms has likely increased.
Human rights abuses? That's a joke. The US regularly abducts people and send them to Egypt for interrogation/torture/execution.
But back on subject. The smuggling network is a real threat to Israel's military domination of Gaza. There are now so many arms and militants in Gaza now that all Israel can do is try to seal Gaza's borders with Egypt and occasionally launch raids into Gaza. Soon even those occasional raids will become too dangerous. Its even possible that Gazans might even force Israel to withdraw their forces from the Gaza/Egypt border and seize control of their own borders, opening up Gaza to the free flow of food, medicine, trade.... as well as more arms and militants.
Even though Israel would like Egyptians to help stem the flow of weapons and militants into Gaza, Egypt's hands are somewhat tied. Even if Egypt wanted to post more border guards along its border with Gaza, they can't. Under the terms of a international pact Egypt is not allowed to post more than 1000 police and military in the area along Israel's border.
Egyptians in general are sypathetic to Palestinian suffering, especially in Gaza which at one time was occupied by Egypt (before its was occupied by Israel). Likely many Egyptian border guards can be bribed to look the other way as militants and arms go into buildings near the Israeli border and disappear.
A major battle is coming. At some point Gazans will attack Israelis soldiers which control their border with Egypt and Gaza will become a battleground. Gazans have little choice. They either fight Israel or allow Israel to starve them.
Recently Israel has been pulling the strings of American politicians they own to threaten the size of Egypt's bribe. The problem is that for some time now, arms and militants have been flowing to Gaza through Egypt via an elaborate smuggling network. This network was probably a factor in Hamas ousting Fatah from Gaza. Now that Hamas rules Gaza and benefits directly from the smuggling, the rate of militants and arms has likely increased.
U.S., Egypt at odds on Gaza border curbs
Washington urges Cairo to step up efforts to control smuggling of arms and funds to Hamas. Egypt says the threat is exaggerated.
By Paul Richter, Times Staff Writer
June 23, 2007
...in a further sign of American concern, the House early Friday adopted a foreign aid bill that would cut $200 million of the $1.3 billion in annual military aid to Egypt unless it halts smuggling at the Gaza border and curbs human rights abuses....
http://www.latimes.com/news/printed...ory?coll=la-news-a_section&ctrack=1&cset=true
Human rights abuses? That's a joke. The US regularly abducts people and send them to Egypt for interrogation/torture/execution.
But back on subject. The smuggling network is a real threat to Israel's military domination of Gaza. There are now so many arms and militants in Gaza now that all Israel can do is try to seal Gaza's borders with Egypt and occasionally launch raids into Gaza. Soon even those occasional raids will become too dangerous. Its even possible that Gazans might even force Israel to withdraw their forces from the Gaza/Egypt border and seize control of their own borders, opening up Gaza to the free flow of food, medicine, trade.... as well as more arms and militants.
Even though Israel would like Egyptians to help stem the flow of weapons and militants into Gaza, Egypt's hands are somewhat tied. Even if Egypt wanted to post more border guards along its border with Gaza, they can't. Under the terms of a international pact Egypt is not allowed to post more than 1000 police and military in the area along Israel's border.
Egyptians in general are sypathetic to Palestinian suffering, especially in Gaza which at one time was occupied by Egypt (before its was occupied by Israel). Likely many Egyptian border guards can be bribed to look the other way as militants and arms go into buildings near the Israeli border and disappear.
A major battle is coming. At some point Gazans will attack Israelis soldiers which control their border with Egypt and Gaza will become a battleground. Gazans have little choice. They either fight Israel or allow Israel to starve them.