Egyptian Regime Acts in Support of Israel and United States

Mubarak and Egyptian Regime Attempt to Destroy Solidarity With Gaza

The following is a message from the organisers of the Gaza Freedom March and Jewish Peace News.

The regime of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, which has consistently worked with Israel and the United States to reimpose the rule of Fatah stooges over Gaza, including supporting Israel's attack on and invasion of Gaza earlier this year, is now seeking to destroy international solidarity action with Gaza.

The regime of Mubarak receives the 2nd highest US military aid after Israel. It is a vicious, pro-US dictatorship, which unfortunately Palestinian leaders, including Arafat, turned to for help, despite the deal his predecessor Anwar Sadat made with Israel in the Camp David agreement.

As can be seen, the 'help' of this regime is only offered if it helps divide Palestinians and give succour and support to Israel. There is a clear message here for Palestinian solidarity activists in Britain and elsewhere. There is no solution to the Palestinian dispossession and oppression which does not tackle the Arab regimes too, those creatures and clients of the United States and Israel.

Whether one likes it or not, the solution to the Palestinian question is a regional one which cannot be solved within the confines of Palestine only. In this there is a clear divergence from the situation in South Africa where the Black regimes were not only marginal, but those surrounding South Africa had alread liberated themselves from British and Portuguese imperialism.

The road to Jerusalem goes through Cairo and Riyadh.

Tony Greenstein

Monday, December 21, 2009
Urgent Gaza Freedom March Update - Please take action!

Egypt is attempting to close the boarder at Rafah, or at least threatening to do so. If this happens, the many people heading to Gaza for the Freedom March won't be able to get there.

Please help (information below), and also help disseminate this urgent alert.
Thanks,
Racheli Gai.


From: Gaza Freedom March
Date: Mon, Dec 21, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Subject: Urgent March Update

Gaza Freedom March
UPDATE
December 21, 2009

We are determined to break the siege. We all will continue to do whatever we can to make it happen

Using the pretext of escalating tensions on the Gaza-Egypt border, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry informed us yesterday that the Rafah border will be closed over the coming weeks, into January. We responded that there is always tension at the border because of the siege, that we do not feel threatened, and that if there are any risks, they are risks we are willing to take. We also said that it was too late for over 1,300 delegates coming from over 42 countries to change their plans now. We both agreed to continue our exchanges.

Although we consider this as a setback, it is something we've encountered -and overcome- before. No delegation, large or small, that entered Gaza over the past 12 months has ever received a final OK before arriving at the Rafah border. Most delegations were discouraged from even heading out of Cairo to Rafah. Some had their buses stopped on the way. Some have been told outright that they could not go into Gaza. But after public and political pressure, the Egyptian government changed its position and let them pass.

Our efforts and plans will not be altered at this point. We have set out to break the siege of Gaza and march on December 31 against the Israeli blockade. We are continuing in the same direction.

Egyptian embassies and missions all over the world must hear from us and our supporters (by phone, fax and email)** over the coming crucial days, with a clear message: Let the international delegation enter Gaza and let the Gaza Freedom March proceed.

Contact your local consulate here: http://www.mfa.gov.eg/MFA_Portal/en-GB/mfa_websits/

Contact the Palestine Division in Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cairo
Ahmed Azzam, tel +202-25749682 Email: ahmed.azzam@mfa.gov.eg

In the U.S., contact the Egyptian Embassy, 202-895-5400 and ask for Omar Youssef or email omaryoussef@hotmail.com

The GFM Steering Committee

* * Sample text

I am writing/calling to express my full support for the December 31, 2009 Gaza Freedom March. I urge the Egyptian government to allow the 1,300 international delegates to enter the Gaza Strip through Egypt. The aim of the march is to call on Israel to lift the siege. The delegates will also take in badly needed medical aid, as well as school supplies and winter jackets for the children of Gaza. Please, let this historic March proceed. Thank you.

Jewish Peace News editors:
Joel Beinin
Racheli Gai
Rela Mazali
Sarah Anne Minkin
Judith Norman
Lincoln Z. Shlensky
Rebecca Vilkomerson
Alistair Welchman