"We're expecting to hear an explanation from Egypt," a senior State official told Ynet on Wednesday night after hundreds of Palestinian pilgrims returning from Mecca were allowed into Gaza without going through inspection – in violation of the understanding between Israel and Egyptian authorities.The issue of the Palestinian pilgrims is only the latest crisis to add fuel to the flaring tensions between Israel and Egypt.
Hundreds of Palestinian pilgrims made their way back into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing on Wednesday after being stranded on Egyptian soil for almost a week following their return from the haj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, according to Palestinian sources.
The circumstances that allowed for the return of the pilgrims remain unclear, although unidentified sources in Gaza said the pilgrims did not employ force and their passage was coordinated with Egyptian authorities.
Among those returning to Gaza are dozens of senior Hamas political and military figures. Israel claims that some of the returning Palestinians raised millions of dollars for Hamas while in Saudi Arabia and Israel also suspects that some underwent military training in Iran.
And now, having shown that it's utterly faithless, dishonest and dishonorable, Egypt has the nerve to threaten Israel for trying to undermine Egyptian relations with the U.S. I know I'm spitting into the wind here, but Mubarak simply must be made to pay a price for this betrayal. At some point, enough is enough.
Soccer Dad has more here, including a survey of prominent MSM coverage.
And I just couldn't let the week end without mentioning ...
Iowa.
There ya go.
Shabbat Shalom.
