A number people argue that not only as a neighboring country, but as a country of Arabs, Muslims and Christians it is Egypt’s responsibility, as a state, to end the blockade in Gaza. Ex-Prime Minister of Israel Yitzhak Shamir's spokesman once said that “if the Palestinians speak of a Palestinian State, it should be established east of the river, where they already constitute a majority.” That is, in Jordan. There has been an underlying desire throughout the history of Israel to transfer its Arab population to neighboring Arab countries. In fact, sometimes it is an explicit sentiment, with the phrase coined by Sharon “Jordan is Palestine†coming to mind. Earlier this year, nearly half of the Knesset's 120 members moved to pass the “two states for two peoples on the two banks of the River Jordan” proposal on to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for further discussion. The fact that it was even being considered speaks for itself. The point of this is that the Israeli government would love any opportunity to wash their hands of its Palestinian responsibilities, and allowing those few miles of coastline to be opened up would be a shortcut to such a situation. Egypt would effectively have to adopt and, no doubt, eventually annex Gaza. Think about it: In a world where the Rafah crossing was allowed to open, the media would have a field day. It would be positive press for the Israeli government, even though it would merit no medals for its inaction to prevent the Palestinian-Egyptian border to open. Hearing that siege in Gaza has been lifted would probably cause the public to wrongly believe that it is no longer crippled and therefore no longer needs the aid that they have been donating. Finally, with all responsibility for the 1.4 million Gazans falling into Egyptian hands, Egypt would see its own volatile economy suffer. We have to remember that 20 percent of Egyptians themselves live below the poverty line and a huge number live just above. I am all for solidarity and sharing the load but I struggle to find a good enough reason why Egyptians alone should be the one to, effectively, bear the repercussions of a European crime. Of course, there is the logical side and the emotional side, or rather a political option and a humanitarian option and as brutal as this sounds, the continued blockade of Gaza is getting it the attention and aid that it so needs. As controversial as it may be, if Gaza values its future and its identity, it is in its interest to wait out the blockade. The second that the Egyptian government freely opens the border will be the second that Israel relinquishes all responsibility for the Gazans. This does not mean that those Egyptians who are not financially struggling should not help. We must not, of course, just sit back and let Palestinians suffer. One day Israel will have no choice but to allow Gazans to access the West Bank. That is imminent. As long as Gaza is officially under a blockade, it attracts the attention that it needs. Unofficially, there is no reason why we, as citizens, cannot help liberate Gaza. Instead of the Egyptian government opening the crossing, the people of every country should send their own aid via alternative means. The Viva Palestina convoy, for example, uses power in numbers and foreign pressure to break the siege via land and sea. So, Egypt, it’s time to live up to the solidarity that you profess, grab your shovels, we’ve got some tunnels to be digging. BM
