Following the terror attack in an Egyptian police base in Sinai three weeks ago, and the subsequent shutting of the Rafiach Crossing between Hamas-controlled Gaza and Egypt, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has announced the reopening of the Rafiach Crossing in both directions.

The reopening occurred on Sunday morning, 8 Elul 5772. According to Hamas spokesman Sami Abu-Zohari, the move shows the good-will of the new Egyptian administration. During the closure, Egyptian forces destroyed one-quarter of the Gaza smuggling tunnels, but source in Gaza are confident the tunnels will be rebuilt.

The London-based al-Hayat newspaper reported that Egyptian Defense Minister Abdel -Fattah el-Sissi spoke with Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Thursday, 5 Elul 5772, for a first time since being appointed to the new senior post.

According to the Washington Post, the conversation followed “Israeli grumbling” over Egyptian deployment of armored vehicles in Sinai, a violation of the 30+-year-old treaty between Egypt and Israel.

The Post adds, “The Israeli defense ministry refused comment. An Israeli defense official said no conversation took place between el-Sissi and Barak. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the extreme sensitivity of the matter.

Some view the Egyptian placement of tanks in Sinai as marking the end of the 1979 peace treaty, which calls for a demilitarized Sinai Peninsula. Some fear that the proximity of Egyptian tanks in Sinai poses a serious threat to Israel as officials continue to carefully monitor the new Egyptian administration.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)