gypt issues threats against Israel in advance of Hamas-Fatah agreement

Monday, May 2, 2011     GET REAL
Egypt issues threats against Israel in advance
of Hamas-Fatah agreement
CAIRO — Egypt has launched a campaign of threats against Israel after the Arab state's efforts to achieve a reconciliation accord between Fatah and Hamas. ShareThis    
Leading Egyptians have warned Israel not to torpedo the Hamas reconciliation agreement, scheduled for signing in Cairo on May 3. They said Israel must end restrictions on both the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian Authority. "The Israeli government must show restraint when it discusses peace talks," Egyptian Chief of Staff Gen. Sami Annan said. "It must refrain from intervening in internal matters of Palestine."

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Later, Egyptian sources said the Annan statement, which appeared on his Facebook page, was a forgery. The government has remained silent after the statement.
Officials said Egypt has agreed to end the siege on the Gaza Strip, imposed in 2007 when Hamas toppled the PA. They said the Interior Ministry would open the Rafah border crossing on a permanent basis in early May in an effort to ensure coordination between Hamas and Egypt.
"Egyptian national security and Palestinian security are one," Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Al Arabi said.
Egyptian leaders also warned Israel against attacks on Hamas and Palestinian militias in the Gaza Strip. They said Egypt would be much more vigilant in responding to Israeli air strikes, conducted in retaliation for Palestinian mortar and rocket attacks.
"The threat against the Palestinian government has enraged Arab nations, which may augur disastrous results," Egyptian Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi, who also heads the Higher Military Council, said.
The reconciliation efforts by Egypt's military regime was supported by the Muslim Brotherhood. The Brotherhood, an ally of Hamas, has called on Cairo to focus on helping the Palestinians while cutting off natural gas supplies to Israel.
"We urge them [Fatah and Hamas] not to listen to Zionist threats that reject this deal, which reveals their hostile stance towards a Palestinian truce that will return rights to Palestinians," Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie said.