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/ 25 November 2005
The Rafah border, Gaza’s only link to the outside world that bypasses Israel, was declared open by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Friday after being shut for nearly three months. ”It is a dream come true for us to be here to celebrate the reopening of the Rafah terminal,” Abbas told Palestinian and foreign dignitaries.
Israeli forces were set for a showdown on Thursday with the final hard core of Gaza Strip settlers, surrounding synagogues where thousands of religious Jews had taken refuge as the country struggled to absorb the traumatic impact of ending its 38-year occupation of Gaza.
The last Jewish settlers were dragged kicking and screaming out of the Gaza Strip on Wednesday as Israel moved to end 38 years of occupation of the Palestinian territory. Backed by bulldozers, Israeli forces fanned out through the Mediterranean seafront territory.
Israel’s military intelligence chief praised Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday for his efforts to disarm militants, countering claims by the government, which has frozen plans to transfer responsibility for security. ”There is determined activity on his part in terms of his aims and intentions,” General Aharon Zeevi said.
Thousands of Israeli police have been deployed in Jerusalem’s old city for Muslim Friday prayers amid fears Palestinian anger would erupt over a planned gathering of Jewish extremists at a holy site. Palestinian groups warned Israelis that any extremist action around the compound at the meeting in two days time would be tantamount to a declaration of war.
Pools of dried blood, shredded bathing suits, charred cars and rubble were left behind on Friday after a car bomb rocked Egypt’s Taba Hilton hotel, killing a still-undetermined number of people. The attacks there late on Thursday night and at a backpacker’s resort left at least 30 people dead and more than 100 wounded
Jerusalem’s gay community was preparing on Wednesday for strong opposition to its annual Gay Pride march after provocative posters comparing homosexuals to child molesters were plastered all over the Holy City. But parade organisers appeared unruffled by the virulent campaign.