Egypt struggles with Gaza infiltrators

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Egypt struggles with Gaza infiltrators
Jerusalem Post
KHALED ABU TOAMEH
September 14, 2005

The Palestinian Authority and Egypt agreed on Tuesday to close the border near Rafah to prevent Palestinians from crossing into Egypt.

The agreement was reached during a tense meeting between Egyptian and PA security officials after thousands of Palestinians infiltrated the border over the past 48 hours.

"As of Wednesday, the border with Egypt will be sealed off," a top PA security official told The Jerusalem Post. "We will deploy hundreds of policemen on the Palestinian side to stop people from crossing into Egypt."

The official revealed that the Egyptians were "extremely unhappy" with the way the PA was handling the matter. "They told us that they don't want to see the anarchy continue on our side," he said. "They also warned that Egypt would not tolerate any attempt to smuggle weapons or goods into the Gaza Strip."

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