Egypt rejects accusations of lax border

CAIRO, Egypt-Egypt rejected Israeli criticism that its government has failed to stop smugglers from crossing the porous border with the Gaza Strip, saying Tuesday that Israel's foreign minister was "not fully aware of the situation. "Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni infuriated Egyptian officials on Monday by accusing Egypt of doing a "terrible" job in securing the border, saying this stands in the way of Israel's negotiations with the Palestinians because it strengthens extremists in Gaza.Egypt's foreign ministry disagreed."It is better for the Israeli minister to concentrate on negotiation efforts with the Palestinians, instead of speaking randomly about issues she should not be dealing with if she is not fully aware of the situation," its statement said Tuesday.Israel is concerned that Hamas is using subterranean tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border to amass ammunition and explosives as it braces for another round of fighting. The Israeli military believes hundreds of tons of explosives have been smuggled into Gaza through the tunnels. Israel gave U.S. officials a number of videotapes showing Egyptian police officers helping weapons smugglers along the border or standing by while smugglers went about their business, Israeli defense officials said Tuesday.The tapes were passed on through military channels, the officials said, in an attempt to persuade the U.S.-Egypt's most significant international ally-to prod Egypt to take action against the smugglers. They spoke on condition of anonymity because regulations forbid them from speaking to the media.Arye Mekel, a spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry, would not comment on whether the tapes existed, or whether they had been given to the U.S. military.But an Egyptian security official in the border town of Rafah on Monday-when reports of the tape appeared first in Israeli media-said the tapes were a fabrication and that it was impossible to film any border activity amid some 750 border guards patrolling the frontiers around the clock.The disputes clouded upcoming talks Wednesday between Israel's defense minister, Ehud Barakm and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.Egypt often acts as a mediator between Israel and Hamas. That mediation, as well as arms smuggling allegations and a recent Hamas offer for a truce are expected to be on the agenda at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik.Livni's accusations echo allegations in pending legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to withhold $200 million in military aid until Egypt takes steps to curb police abuse, reform its judicial system and stop arms smuggling into the neighboring Gaza Strip."Unfortunately, we feel a certain level of unease with Egypt's treatment of the border area," Mekel said Tuesday.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071225/ap_on_re_mi_ea/egypt_israel

As in the days of Noah....