Sunday 29 May 2011

Israel Denounces Rafah Opening, Blames Netanyahu

Israeli opposition party Kadima has described the opening of Rafah border crossing by Egypt as a diplomatic failure for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a statement on Saturday, the Kadima party reacted to the reopening of the Rafah border crossing to Gaza by Egypt's interim government and blamed Netanyahu's cabinet for failing to prevent the move, Ha'aretz reported.

“The breaking of the blockade, with no coordination with Israel, and against its will, constitutes a diplomatic failure of the Netanyahu government - that because of its diplomatic weakness and inability to create coordination and cooperation with international parties, has left Israel isolated, in a position of weakened security, while Hamas has gotten stronger,” a statement released by the party said.

Egypt opened its Rafah border with the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip on Saturday, allowing people to cross freely for the first time in four years. The border had been closed since 2007, when Hamas took control of Gaza.

"The Rafah border was opened for the first time [Saturday] in direct opposition to Israel's interests," the statement continued.

The Israeli opposition party said the reopening of the border "breached the blockade that the Kadima government had brokered with international assistance against Hamas."

The new Egyptian government says that the permanent opening of the Rafah border crossing will ease the Israeli siege on the sufferings of Gazans.
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