Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CAIRO3
2009-01-02 14:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
EGYPT: GAZA ROUND-UP: JANUARY 2
how-toVZCZCXRO8744 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHEG #0003 0021420 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 021420Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1264 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS CAIRO 000003
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ELA AND NEA/IPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAL PGOV PREL PHUM EG IS
SUBJECT: EGYPT: GAZA ROUND-UP: JANUARY 2
REF: CAIRO 0002
-----------
Rafah Quiet
-----------
UNCLAS CAIRO 000003
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ELA AND NEA/IPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAL PGOV PREL PHUM EG IS
SUBJECT: EGYPT: GAZA ROUND-UP: JANUARY 2
REF: CAIRO 0002
--------------
Rafah Quiet
--------------
1. (SBU) As of 1500 hrs. local on January 2, we have received
no reports of demonstrations, attacks, or other problems at
the Rafah border crossing into Gaza; however, local USG staff
report clashes on January 2 between police and demonstrators
in Al-Arish in North Sinai, about 20 miles from the Gaza
border, injuring several demonstrators. We continue to
monitor this situation closely.
--------------
Demonstrations in Cairo, Delta
--------------
2. (SBU) Local USG staff report that police on January 2
attacked demonstrators outside the Al Gamya Shariya mosque in
downtown Cairo, injuring an Al-Masry Al-Youm reporter who was
transferred to a hospital. Local staff also report
demonstrations in Ismailia and Suez.
--------------
Israelis Visit Synagogue
--------------
3. (SBU) According to USG staff in Alexandria, about 300
Israelis have visited the Nebi Daniel synagogue there in
advance of the upcoming annual celebration at the tomb of Abu
Hizara in the Delta. The GoE has been generally supportive
of this annual pilgrimage despite Islamist and local
opposition.
-------------- --------------
Aboul Gheit Blasts Syrians, Israelis, Iranians, and Hamas
-------------- --------------
4. (SBU) Local press reports that Foreign Minister Aboul
Gheit told local editors on January 1 that Syria had refused
an Egyptian request that Hamas allow the return of the
Palestinian Authority to oversee the re-opening of the Rafah
border crossing. Aboul Gheit that Israel has attempted since
1981 to separate Gaza from the West Bank. He said the
current Israeli attack on Gaza is the third of its kind, and
Egypt will not allow such attacks to continue. He added that
Hamas tried to obtain Egyptian recognition because it knows
that Egyptian recognition will lead to international
recognition, which in the end only serves Israeli interests.
Aboul Gheit said that Egypt has the ability and power to work
alone, even if it has to face both the Israeli and Iranian
"projects" in the Middle East. He said that Israel has
"offered" Gaza to Egypt, while Jordan "takes" the West Bank,
but Egypt refuses such talk. He added that Hamas' strategy
was to force Egypt to recognize Hamas by permanently opening
the Rafah crossing, but this is something that Egypt cannot
do, since doing so would effectively end the Palestinian
Authority in the West Bank, and also achieve the Israeli goal
of separating Gaza from the West Bank.
SCOBEY
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ELA AND NEA/IPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAL PGOV PREL PHUM EG IS
SUBJECT: EGYPT: GAZA ROUND-UP: JANUARY 2
REF: CAIRO 0002
--------------
Rafah Quiet
--------------
1. (SBU) As of 1500 hrs. local on January 2, we have received
no reports of demonstrations, attacks, or other problems at
the Rafah border crossing into Gaza; however, local USG staff
report clashes on January 2 between police and demonstrators
in Al-Arish in North Sinai, about 20 miles from the Gaza
border, injuring several demonstrators. We continue to
monitor this situation closely.
--------------
Demonstrations in Cairo, Delta
--------------
2. (SBU) Local USG staff report that police on January 2
attacked demonstrators outside the Al Gamya Shariya mosque in
downtown Cairo, injuring an Al-Masry Al-Youm reporter who was
transferred to a hospital. Local staff also report
demonstrations in Ismailia and Suez.
--------------
Israelis Visit Synagogue
--------------
3. (SBU) According to USG staff in Alexandria, about 300
Israelis have visited the Nebi Daniel synagogue there in
advance of the upcoming annual celebration at the tomb of Abu
Hizara in the Delta. The GoE has been generally supportive
of this annual pilgrimage despite Islamist and local
opposition.
-------------- --------------
Aboul Gheit Blasts Syrians, Israelis, Iranians, and Hamas
-------------- --------------
4. (SBU) Local press reports that Foreign Minister Aboul
Gheit told local editors on January 1 that Syria had refused
an Egyptian request that Hamas allow the return of the
Palestinian Authority to oversee the re-opening of the Rafah
border crossing. Aboul Gheit that Israel has attempted since
1981 to separate Gaza from the West Bank. He said the
current Israeli attack on Gaza is the third of its kind, and
Egypt will not allow such attacks to continue. He added that
Hamas tried to obtain Egyptian recognition because it knows
that Egyptian recognition will lead to international
recognition, which in the end only serves Israeli interests.
Aboul Gheit said that Egypt has the ability and power to work
alone, even if it has to face both the Israeli and Iranian
"projects" in the Middle East. He said that Israel has
"offered" Gaza to Egypt, while Jordan "takes" the West Bank,
but Egypt refuses such talk. He added that Hamas' strategy
was to force Egypt to recognize Hamas by permanently opening
the Rafah crossing, but this is something that Egypt cannot
do, since doing so would effectively end the Palestinian
Authority in the West Bank, and also achieve the Israeli goal
of separating Gaza from the West Bank.
SCOBEY