Egypt's anti-drug body launches new awareness phase in Maspero Triangle    Agiba Petroleum starts production from Arcadia-28 at 4,100 BOE/day    Minister El-Shimy pushes for stronger returns, partnerships in real estate, construction sectors    Apparel, textile chambers engage with Chinese delegation to explore investment opportunities in Egypt    Egypt reviews health insurance funding mechanism to ensure long-term sustainability    Obama calls for aid access to Gaza, says 'no justification' for withholding food    Gaza on verge of famine as war escalates, ceasefire talks stall    Gaza crisis, trade on agenda as Trump hosts Starmer in Scotland    Egyptian president follows up on initiatives to counter extremist thought    Egypt's SCZONE eyes deeper investment, port digitalisation ties with Singapore    Egypt's gold prices slip slightly on July 28th    Egypt's Housing Min. reviews HDP marketing plan    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



ElBaradei criticizes underground Gaza barrier
Published in Daily News Egypt on 13 - 04 - 2010

CAIRO: Head of the National Coalition for Change Mohamed ElBaradei criticized the building of a steel barrier beneath the border between Egypt and Gaza, saying it has harmed Egypt's reputation.
In an interview with the Palestine Information Center Monday, the former IAEA chief said that the building of the underground wall is perceived as Egyptian complicity in the Israeli siege of Gaza, in place since Hamas took over the territory in June 2007.
ElBaradei said that the best solution for the Gaza border was the closure of the underground tunnels used for smuggling goods into the impoverished strip, and opening the Rafah crossing permanently, not intermittently as Egypt has done over the past three years.
He also called for a free trade zone to be put in place in Rafah where Palestinians could go buy goods freely before returning to Gaza.
Work on the underground barrier has intensified in recent weeks as it nears areas renowned for the number of smuggling tunnels.
Egypt began building the underground barrier earlier this year, but at first refused to confirm that it was doing so. Later, it refused to say that it was a wall, but rather an extension of the barbed wire fence running across the border over ground.
ElBaradei also spoke of the Palestinian issue in general during the interview, claiming that it was at its lowest ebb. He criticized Israel for refusing to move forward in the peace process, claiming that it had become a joke.
He also said that Israel only understands the language of force, and that the Arabs should back their peace proposals with the language of force and defiance.
"We have been talking about peace for the past 20 years but no progress is witnessed in the Palestine cause, he said.
ElBaradei has returned to Egypt after leaving his IAEA post to stir the political waters in his home country, hinting that he might consider running for president in the 2011 elections and calling for constitutional change.
He has set up the National Coalition for Change with a number of opposition figures to call first and foremost for changes in the constitution, specifically the articles that govern the viability of presidential candidates.
Secretary of Information at the ruling National Democratic Party Ali Eldin Hilal said in a lecture at Cairo University Monday that Egypt's problems will not be solved with constitutional amendments and those calling for it did not "live in reality.
He said that Egypt's future problems revolved around water poverty and a continued increase in the population level.
Member of the National Coalition for Change George Ishaq told Daily News Egypt Monday in response to Hilal's comments, "We want change because the current regime ruined our lives, they haven't looked to the future for thirty years, are they going to start now?
"Hilal's comments are wrong and if the amendments we are calling for aren't made to ensure free and fair elections then nothing will change because they will not change, he added.


Clic here to read the story from its source.