Kadima raps Israeli PM over Rafah
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.
Women, children as well as men aged over 40 are allowed to enter Egypt freely, but men aged between 18 and 40 still require a permit.
The former Egyptian regime was under pressure from the public and some Arab countries for refusing to open the crossing even during the Israeli deadly offensive into Gaza in 2008, in which nearly 1,400 people, mostly women and children, were killed.
The 22-day Israeli offensive deteriorated the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza as many civilian infrastructures were destroyed during the invasion.
Gazans have ever since been facing harsh conditions with minimal supply of food, water, fuel, and electricity.
Source: presstv.ir
