Saturday, January 26, 2008

Egypt takes new tack to send Palestinians back to Gaza

Contributed by Lucia in Spain

"....Baton-wielding riot police made another attempt this morning to stop Palestinians from streaming across the breached Rafah border and into Egypt, but security forces remained outnumbered and many families simply walked to other, unmanned passages outside the police cordon.

Reluctant to use force against fellow Muslims and doubtful about a speedy political solution, the Egyptian government this morning turned to a new tactic for shooing home the Palestinians. Security forces have ordered shopkeepers and hotel clerks to stop serving customers from Gaza, according to several business owners in Rafah.

"The shops are all shut," said Mahmoud Hanafi, 25, who works in his father's clothing store, which also was forced to close today. "The instructions were that no one opens until people leave. Many (Palestinians) have left."....."

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