Haniyeh Waits a Rafah

The standoff at Rafah continues.

Palestinian PM, Ismail Haniyeh, is still waiting on the Egyptian side of the Rafah pass where he is being held up for the past few hours. Haniyeh was not allowed to return to Gaza as he brought with him 35 million dollars.

Firefights erupted between Hamas supporters and Fatah supporters. Hamas supporters also fought with Egyptian border guards. At least 10 people were injured in the shooting.

The European observers who are supposed to be stationed at the Pass cannot return to their post for fear that they will be lynched by the Hamas mob (numbering in the thousands) which has gathered nearby.

Earlier, an agreement was reached in which Haniyeh was to enter Gaza but leave the money in the Siani desert, but sporadic gunfire and threats made against the observers prevent their return to the pass, so Haniyeh still waits in the Siani side of the Rafah Pass.

Egyptian court sentences the Taba bombers to death

A specially appointed Egyptian court sentenced today three terrorist to death. The three took part in three simultaneous bombings in Ras Al-Shitan and the Hilton hotel in Taba, both in the Siani desert.
In the attack, an entire wing of the Hilton hotel collapsed. 34 people were killed, 13 of them Israeli citizens.
Egypt make great effort to keep the security in the Siani peninsula as it is a major tourist location and a source of great revenue. Many Israelis frequent the Siani in what best examplifies the peace which exists between Israel and Egypt.
After the Taba bombing, Egypt, in an unprecedented step, allowed IDF soldiers to cross into the Siani and assist in resuce operations.
Al-Qaeda is assumed to be responsible for the bombing.

Head of Egypt's intelligence service visits Israel

Gen. Omar Suliman, head of Egypt's intelligence service, met today with Israel's security minister, Amir Peretz. The talks dealt primarily with the situation in the Gaza strip and continuing efforts to secure the release of abducted israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. Shalit was abducted by palestinian militants of the Hamas organization a few months ago. Haled Mashal, one of the leaders of Hamas, visited Egypt earlier this week. At the moment Hamas is demanding the release of many prisoners in exchange for Shalit, a price Israel is reluctant to pay. Suliman and Peretz also discussed the ongoing smuggling operations taking place between the Siani desert and the Gaza strip. Egyptian forces guarding the border have not been able to seal it and great quantites of weapons and explosives have been smuggled by palestinian militants since Israel's withdrawl from Gaza in the summer of 2005. Suliman is also scheduled to meet with Israel's PM, Ehud Olmert, and the head of Mossad, Meir Dagan. In Israel, many politicians have expressed outrage at Egypt's ineffective control of the border with Gaza and believe that Egypt can do a lot more.