When you are putting your most willing troops forward for the moon god, you must provide them with the best tools.
Posted on 09/14/2005 9:20:42 AM PDT by Sabramerican
Black market prices dive as weapons flood into Gaza margot dudkevitch and jpost staff, THE JERUSALEM POST Sep. 14, 2005
Smugglers have brought large amounts of weapons and bullets into Gaza from Egypt, and the influx has cut black market prices, Palestinian officials and a weapons dealer said Wednesday.
An arms dealer said the price of an AK-47 assault rifle has dropped from 1,400 Jordanian dinars ($1,977) to about 900 dinars ($1,300). Bullets for the weapon are now being sold for as little as three shekels (less than $1) when previously they cost up to 18 shekels ($4).
Egyptian-made pistols that were recently sold in Gaza for $1,400 can now be bought for as little as $177, while an Italian pistol can be bought for $400, down from a previous high of $3,500, said the dealer, who identified himself only as Khader, for fear of arrest.
Most of the arms were bought from Bedouins and farmers on the Egyptian side of the border, Khader said. A Palestinian border control officer confirmed arms have been smuggled into Gaza, bringing down prices.
On Wednesday morning, Hamas operatives blew up a wall in Rafah in order to facilitate the uncontrolled flow of Palestinians and Egyptians streaming across the Gaza-Egypt border.
The gunmen threatened a PA security officer at the site not to seal the hole, vowing that for every hole sealed they would create ten more.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei was expected to head to Egypt in the next two days to discuss how to jointly monitor the border in an organized manner, PA National Security Adviser Jibril Rajoub said on Wednesday.
Despite Israeli demands on Egypt and the Palestinian Authority to immediately take action and seal off the border, Palestinians and Egyptians continued to freely cross the border since Wednesday morning.
Concerned over the chaotic situation in Gaza, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz warned Tuesday that failure to act immediately to restore law and order could have serious repercussions.
Mofaz also requested the intervention of US Ambassador Dan Kurtzer, sources in the Defense Ministry said.
Chairman of the Knesset's Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, MK Yuval Steinitz (Likud), on Wednesday harshly criticized the Egyptian force.
"The ink that signed the terrible Philadelphi agreement has yet to dry up and it has already become evident that in return for damaging the demilitarization of Sinai we got an open border for arms smugglers," he said.
Just hours after the IDF pullout from the Gaza Strip on Monday morning, thousands of Palestinians forced their way through the border crossing and rushed into Egypt. The crossing has since turned into an open passage, with thousands streaming across.
Read the Post's Complete Disengagement Guide
In preparation for the handover of the Philadelphi corridor to Egyptian and PA security control, Israel shut down its headquarters at the crossing a week ago.
Click here to view readers' opinions and to add your own opinion on the closing of Gaza's gates
The understanding was that once the PA received control of the Gaza Strip, it would assume the responsibility of monitoring the border with Egypt and act to prevent terror and weapons smuggling.
Ever since the army left Gaza, the situation has approached anarchy, strengthening Israeli fears that terror organizations will take advantage of the situation to restock their weapons' supplies and improve their capabilities.
"We view the situation as extremely serious and expect the PA and Egyptians to take immediate action and restore law and order," a source said. "If the situation remains unchecked, Israel will be forced to take steps." He declined to divulge further details.
I think they throw in a Koran.
When you are putting your most willing troops forward for the moon god, you must provide them with the best tools.
..................
You can't make this stuff up. Will Rice agree?
Last update - 19:40 14/09/2005
Palestinian FM: Chaos at Gaza-Egypt border is Israel's fault
By Aluf Benn (in New York) and Arnon Regular, Haaretz Correspondents, Haaretz Service and News Agencies
Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser al-Kidwa on Wednesday blamed Israel for the chaos at the Gaza-Egypt border, as the frontier remained open for the third consecutive day and hundreds of people streamed freely from one side to the other.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, al-Kidwa said that the situation had been of Israel's making as it had insisted on a unilateral withdrawal from the area.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/624877.html
Probably, they've only had ten years to establish control. They need more time, and more arms.
"Those devious JOOOOOOOOZ are destroying the Palestinian economy!"*
(*Excerpt from a forthcoming column by Pat Buchanan.)
btt
Good grief. At first I thought that was from Scrappleface.
"O ye of little faith.." It is their nature. if there are no infidels to kill, they will soon slaughter each other.
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