Rafah opening delights Gazans, worries Israel
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A different Cairo
"What you hear from Cairo - and this is basically Egyptian society pressuring the new government - is that the conditions in Gaza are insupportable," Baumgarten argued.
"They have been pushing the new interim government, hoping that relations will improve with the government in Gaza," she added.
The new Egyptian government was instrumental in working out the reconciliation deal recently signed between Hamas and Fatah, which aims to establish a unity government following years of separation between the two factions after the former's violent take-over of Gaza.
Dr. Ely Karmon with the Inter-Disciplinary Center in Herzliya said that while the opening may have some positive aspects, the negative consequences dominate.
"We must take into consideration that this is a sign of a serious change of position by the new Egyptian government," Karmon said. "Because there is an internationally recognized agreement between the Quartet and Israel that this border must be under EU control."
"Although the Egyptian government have promised to accept all the existing international agreements, this is the first time that they are practically canceling it," he said.
While the border opening may only be a smaller issue, Karmon expressed concerns that if the new government would disregard its obligation in this one case, it may choose to do the same when it comes to the Egyptian-Israeli peace agreement.
New status for Hamas
Karmon said that the opening was a clear victory for Hamas, since its member will be able go abroad for training or for the groups to bring in specialists in areas such as guerrilla warfare.
The possibility also exists that strategic weapons such as anti- tank and anti-ship missiles will be smuggled in, Karmon argued.
Even more important for Egyptian-Hamas relations is the possible influence that the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood may gain in the parliamentary and presidential elections that are slated in September.
After being banned from running by Mubarak, the organization, of which Hamas is an offshoot, could very well gain significant influence and give Hamas a powerful ally in Egyptian politics, according to Karmon.
"A positive side from the Israeli viewpoint is that the country can't be accused of closing Gaza now," Karmon said.
"For many years Israel has sought to make Gaza part of the Egyptian arena, so that the Egyptians would be responsible for the well-being of Gaza," Karmon concluded.
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