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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Israel concerned Egypt will smuggle terrorists into Gaza By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff The government and defense establishment are becoming increasingly concerned over the closer ties Egypt and the Hamas government are forging in the Gaza Strip and over Egypt's turning a blind eye to continued smuggling from Sinai to the Gaza Strip. An Israeli government and defense delegation to Cairo recently protested Egypt's allowing gunmen to enter the Strip from its territory. Advertisement At the beginning of October Egypt allowed some 85 Hamas militants to enter the Gaza Strip from Sinai after a wait of a few months. The group reportedly included experts in manufacturing bombs, rockets and mortars, who had undergone extensive training in Iran and Lebanon. The Palestinian media later reported that the group, which entered the Strip via Rafah and the Philadelphi Route, had been allowed to return in exchange for turning over an Al-Qaida activist from Sinai, whom Hamas had apprehended in the Gaza Strip. Israeli ministers who visited Cairo during the past few weeks have also raised Jerusalem's concerns at meetings with senior Egyptian officials. Egypt claims that Israeli soldiers are taking part in weapons smuggling from its territory. According to Palestinian sources, dozens more gunmen are expected to cross into the Strip from Sinai, including some who were trained in Iran. Meanwhile Israel continues to gather intelligence on smuggling from Sinai to the Gaza Strip, which has greatly increased since Hamas has taken over power. Recently released information indicates that no less than 1,650 RPG rockets and some 6,000 bombs have been smuggled into Gaza since the beginning of the year. Yuval Diskin, the head of the Shin Bet security service, told the cabinet meeting Sunday that an estimated 73 tons of explosives have been smuggled into Gaza through tunnels since June. Millions of bullets for light weapons and tons of potassium, used to manufacture bombs, have also crossed the Gaza-Sinai border. Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip have said recently that intensive talks are underway between Hamas and the Egyptian security forces over Hamas' request to allow approximately 100 wounded Palestinians into Egypt to receive medical care. Most of the injured are Hamas members, some of whom were hurt in clashes with Fatah or the Israel Defense Forces. Hamas Health Minister Bassem Na'im said yesterday that Egypt had not yet responsed to the request. Bookmark to del.icio.us Mystery fall Avraham and Carmela Cohen are suspected of being involved in a soldier's murder. Lonely no more Many people hold Lonely Planet responsible for the entire globe becoming a tourist site.

Today Online Reuven Pedatzur: In a war, Syria can strike anywhere in Israel Responses: 146 Israel worried Egypt will let terrorists enter the Gaza Strip Responses: 92 Sarkozy tells PM: Palestinian refugees will not return to Israel Responses: 290 Haaretz.com TV: Top officials slam push to free Rabin assassin Responses: 17 More Headlines 20:59 IAF kills senior militant in air strike in Gaza Strip 22:00 British PM Brown to Olmert: We're for tougher Iran sanctions 21:46 UNESCO announces plan to battle Holocaust denial, raise awareness 02:02 Iran to buy from China 24 fighter jets based on Israeli technology 01:35 Assad orders Syrian ID cards be issued for Druze of the Golan 02:04 Peres: History could never forgive Rabin's assassination 00:05 Poll: Iran, U.S. are countries most want to see having less power 18:24 Hamas warns Shalit may suffer in retaliation for prisoner's death 21:24 Arab MK leads campaign against bill allocating state land to Jews only Previous Editions Select Day 23 oct 22 oct 21 oct 19 oct 18 oct 17 oct 16 oct 15 oct 14 oct 12 oct 11 oct 10 oct

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