Egypt Halts Construction of Steel Wall on Gaza Border, US Gives Up on Project

Local Editor

Egypt halted construction of an underground steel wall designed to stop weapons smuggling along its border with Gaza, "Israeli" war officials said.
Construction of the 6.2-mile barrier was suspended after the ouster of President Husni Mubarak in February, officials told The Jerusalem Post.

"Israel" has told the new Egyptian government it should uphold the position of the previous government in preventing the flow of arms into the Gaza Strip, the newspaper reported.
Some "Israeli" officials said halting the construction was not coincidental. They said Egypt has been trying to strengthen ties with Hamas and cited a recent visit by Hamas Foreign Minister Mahmoud Al Zahar to Cairo, where he met with Egyptian politicians as well as intelligence and military officials, as evidence of the improving relationship.

"There is a new relationship between Hamas and Cairo today. This is likely connected to the upcoming elections and the understanding in Egypt that the Muslim Brotherhood is a strong player and as a result it is important to maintain contacts with Hamas," one official told The Post.
On the 16th of June 2010, "Israeli" army radio had quoted "Israeli" media sources that the United States has given up on the "Iron Dome" project, and has summoned the US military architects who participated in its building on the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip.

The Jpost added that Washington had pulled back its financial support it had dedicated for this project, estimated to cost one billion dollars, which also coincides with Obama's decision to send 400 million dollars to the Fatah authority in Ramallah during a meeting with Abu Mazen.