Here is some good news:
After many years of allowing the smuggling of weapons (and who knows what else) into Gaza and Sinai from Egypt, the Egyptians are finally cracking down. Don't think for a second that Egypt is doing this out of a sudden goodwill for Israel; it is clearly in reaction to
Hezbollah going too far by planning attacks against Israelis on Egyptian soil. The Mubarak regime is worried about its own skin and/or is interested in teaching Hezbollah a lesson. But while it lasts we plan to enjoy it:
Egyptian security forces uncovered a huge munitions cache near the Sinai-Israel border
An Egyptian official assessed that the 266 rockets, 51 mortar shells, 21 grenades and 43 mines uncovered in northern Sinai were meant to be smuggled to Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip.
Last Monday, Egypt discovered a large quantity of ammunition intended for Hamas use near Ismaeliya, Sinai.
Egypt has recently intensified its security presence in the border town of Rafah, setting up checkpoints and dirt roadblocks to reign in smuggling into Gaza, the pan-Arab Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported at the beginning of the month.
About 500 policemen, including plainclothes officers, have been deployed in the city and on dirt tracks and side roads leading to the border, it said.
The increased security has led to heightened tension between smugglers and security officials, and in several incidents the former fired in the air when stopped by police.
