Hamas denies Al Qaeda militants entering Egypt from Gaza

On Sunday, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak defended the building of the barrier along the border with the Gaza Strip, saying it is necessary for the country's security.

Hamas denies al-Qaida militants entering Egypt from Gaza
Report by Xinhua via People's Daily Online 12:23, January 30, 2010:

Deposed Prime Minister of Hamas government in the Gaza Strip Ismail Haneya denied on Friday that extremist militants affiliated to al-Qaida had entered Egypt through the Gaza Strip.

During Friday's prayers in a refugee camp mosque in northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalia, Haneya denied reports published on Thursday that some members of al-Qaida had entered Egypt from the Gaza Strip.

"Such reports are full of lies," Haneya said, adding that "the Islamic movements in Gaza are moderate movements and we don't have any other radical or fanatic Islamic groups as it was published."

However, Haneya did not deny that some young men in Gaza began to believe in extremism and fanatic thoughts, adding "but we had treated this phenomena through meetings and dialogues."

Gaza-based news websites quoted Arab media reports as saying that Egypt decided to build a barrier along its borders with the Gaza Strip after extremists linked to al-Qaida entered Egypt from Gaza.

"I doubt that such kind of danger exists as the reports said," Haneya said, "the aim of publishing such reports is to destroy the good ties between Hamas and Egypt, but I tell them our enemy is not Egypt, it is Israel."

On Sunday, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak defended the building of the barrier along the border with the Gaza Strip, saying it is necessary for the country's security.

Source: Xinhua

Pass this on: Missing Persons Registry - Haitian Earthquake January 2010

Copy of message today on Twitter from Ushahidi's Erik Hersman:

Pass this on. Missing persons registry for #haiti is http://www.haitianquake.com
about 4 hours ago from twhirl
ushahidi

Further reading

Patrick Meier's report at Ushahidi's blog, 13 January 2010: Our Efforts in Response to Haiti’s Earthquake - We’ve launched Haiti.Ushahidi.com

Ethan Zuckerman's blog post at My Heart's in Accra, 13 January 2010: Following the Haitian earthquake online

Israel to build wall along Egyptian border to keep out African migrants

Israel to build wall along Egyptian border
From Ma'an News Agency 11/01/2010 (updated) 12/01/2010 10:48:

(Bethlehem – Ma’an/Agencies) – Israel approved on Sunday the construction of a barrier along its border with Egypt, Israeli media reported on Monday.

"I took the decision to close Israel's southern border to infiltrators and terrorists. This is a strategic decision to secure Israel's Jewish and democratic character," said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement.

In recent weeks, the number of African migrants detained by Egypt whilst trying to enter Israel has increased. On Sunday, Egyptian security sources revealed that security forces thwarted two attempts by African migrants to enter Israel through Egypt's Sinai border. Many have been shot dead at the border by Egypt.

"We cannot let tens of thousands of illegal workers infiltrate into Israel through the southern border and inundate our country with illegal aliens,” Netanyahu added.

Israel’s border with Egypt spans approximately 266 kilometers and the new wall is tipped to cost Israel more than 270 million US dollars, taking two years to complete. The new wall will be accompanied by advanced security and monitoring installations.

Egypt’s steel wall

Meanwhile, Egypt began constructing a steel wall along the border that will extend underground in an attempt to cut off a network of smuggling tunnels. The tunnels are a lifeline for Palestinians living under an Israeli-led blockade.

In December, Egyptian government workers constructing the massive metal barrier along the Egypt-Gaza border came under fire from Palestinian gunmen according to Egyptian security sources.

The presence of Gaza’s smuggling tunnels, which were constructed to attempt to ease the ongoing siege, is deemed a focal security concern for both Israel and Egypt.

In part, Israel’s Operation Cast Lead last winter aimed at collapsing and destroying the industry, which the Israeli army has termed “terror tunnels.”

Egyptian authorities regularly report shutting down smuggling efforts which include the transfer of cigarettes, bottled water, and fuel into Gaza.

On Friday, following an airstrike, the Israeli army dropped leaflets across southern and northern Gaza, warning residents to “take responsibility for their future.”

"Terrorists, tunnel owners, and the smugglers of military equipment know for certain that the continuation of terrorist attacks, the smuggling of military equipment, and the digging of tunnels will be targeted by the IDF [Israel Defense Forces], but they continue to work in your residential areas and seek refuge among you," according to the flier, which was written in Arabic.

Israeli airstrikes on the rise in Gaza

Meanwhile, three Palestinians affiliated to the Islamic Jihad movement were killed in Israeli airstrikes overnight in central Gaza. Islamic Jihad leader Khalid Al-Bashta has warned that all signs point to a new Israeli operation in the besieged coastal strip. Israel is seeking international support for such an operation, he claimed.

Netanyahu said in his weekly cabinet meeting that "Last week 20 rockets and mortar rounds were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip. I regard this very seriously.”

“The IDF responded immediately; it attacked missile producing factories in the Gaza Strip and tunnels through which Iran smuggles missiles and rockets into the Strip. The Government's policy is clear: Any firing at our territory will be responded to strongly and immediately.”

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Israel orders new fence to keep out African migrants



Photo: A Sudanese refugee family are surrounded by Israeli army soldiers after crossing illegally from Egypt into Israel. Photo credit: ARIEL SCHALIT/AP. Source: The Independent, by Ben Lynfield in Jerusalem Tuesday, 12 January 2010 - Israel orders new fence to keep out African migrants