An attempt failed yesterday to let Egyptian aid into the Gaza Strip through the Karem Abu Salem border crossing. Egyptian Red Crescent Secretary General Mamdouh Gabr said the aid has not entered Gaza through Rafah crossing so far. It was expected to cross at 11 a.m yesterday, but this was not possible due to the rocket attacks between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Aid is expected to reach Gaza afternoon or tomorrow at most. For its part, the Hamas-led deposed Palestinian government in Gaza criticized Egypt for waiting for a permission from Israel to supply Gaza with aid.
Ziad Zaza, minister of economy in the deposed government, said: "Egypt waiting for [this] permission is an affront to Egypt and to the Arab and Islamic worlds."
Zaza called for the Rafah border crossing to be opened immediately before goods and individuals, adding that the continuing siege and closure in this way might push the government in Gaza to opt for other alternatives. The Egyptian aid caravan was stopped at the Israeli Karem Abu Salem border crossing, east of Rafah, three days ago, waiting for an Israeli permission to enter Gaza. Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities said they would not open the border unless the launch of rockets stopped.
On the other hand, North Sinai Governor Mohamed Abdel Fadil Shousha called for facing any Palestinian attempts to enter Egypt in order to escape from the siege or the Israeli attacks.
Israeli Foreign Minister and Prime-Minister hopeful Tzipi Livni will visit Cairo today to meet with President Mubarak and other Egyptian officials headed by Ahmed Abul Gheit, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The official spokesman of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry Hossam Zaki told Al-Masry Al-Youm that Livni's talks in Cairo would touch upon all topics and issues on the Israeli and Palestinian arenas, especially the situation in the Gaza Strip and the peace process. "She will head the Israeli negotiation team and it is important for us to understand how much the negotiations are making progress" he affirmed. Livni's stance towards the Gaza Strip should be discussed in light of how sensitive the situation in Gaza is for Egypt and the region, Zaki pointed out. Asked about reports that Livni favors the launch of an Israeli military attack on Gaza, Zaki stressed Egypt's opposition to the use of military force in the Gaza Strip or the policy of collective punishment. "The two parties must adhere to the ceasefire and we have previously managed to achieve this calm" he said.
"Reaching a ceasefire is a positive step, but it is equally important to maintain it. Once there is a political will allowing this, the Egyptian efforts will continue in order to reach a new ceasefire between the Palestinians and Israel," Zaki said.
For his part, an Egyptian official source said Egypt was ready to host a consultative meeting in Cairo in the near future among delegations of all Palestinian factions. This meeting would aim to discuss ways to end the suffering of Gaza's people and create a suitable climate for a Palestinian national dialogue in Cairo. Speaking to the Middle East News Agency (MENA) yesterday, the source said a date would be set for the meeting once Cairo received an approval from all Palestinian factions.
The Egyptian move is due to Egypt's national responsibility for the Palestinian cause in order to achieve the Palestinians' aspirations and desires, the source affirmed. He added that Egypt is ready to host Palestinian factions after the postponement of the Palestinian national dialogue scheduled for last November 9-10.
