Abu Zeid Confirms Egypt Installing Wall Along Gaza Border

Wednesday December 16, 2009 22:03 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Karen Abu Zeid

Commissioner-general of the UN Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA), Karen Abu Zeid, confirmed reports stating that Egypt is installing an iron barrier along its border with the Gaza Strip, and added that the United States is financing the project.

Speaking at a forum organized by the American University in Cairo, Abu Zeid said that the barrier was made in the United States, and that it is more secure that the Bar Lev Line, built by Israel along the eastern coast of the Suez Canal after it captured the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt during the 1967 Six-Day War.

She added that the installation is an implementation to an agreement reached between the former U.S. president, George Bush, and the Israeli government. The agreement was signed by Bush hours before he left the oval office.

Abu Zeid said that such “infamous” statements and decision only serve the occupation and could have a future effect on Egypt’s security should Israel decide to attack Gaza again.

The UN official further said that 60% of the economy in the besieged Gaza Strip depends on the tunnels between Gaza and Egypt, as they became the main source of basic supplies to the residents in Gaza.

Israeli paper, Haaretz, recently published a report stating that Egypt already started the installation of the fence.

Haaretz added that Egypt already started installing huge plates of steel deep in the ground.

Egypt recently held talks with senior US officials, including security officials who are supervising the project.

Special surveillance equipment and sensors will be installed to detect underground activity.

It is worth mentioning that Abu Zeid urged the Arab countries to take the lead of the United Arab Emirates and donate to the Palestinian refugees.

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