Guess What Else is Being Smuggled into Gaza

From Khaled Abu Toameh at the Jerusalem Post, it appears that Palestinians who entered Egypt to get weapons got a bonus:

Many Palestinians were reported to have exploited the open border to smuggle large amounts of weapons and drugs into the Gaza Strip. Others, particularly wholesale merchants, are said to have brought cheap cigarettes, food, livestock and electrical appliances.

But while they were in Egypt, many Palestinian men also discovered that there were many single women eager to marry and move to the Gaza Strip. Hastily arranged marriages enabled the women to return with their new husbands to the Gaza Strip without seeking permission from the Egyptian or Palestinian authorities.

One of the brides, who identified herself as Samira, said she agreed to marry the man she met only hours earlier "because this was an opportunity that should not be missed." Samira, 28, lived with her family in Al-Arish.

"In Egypt, it's very difficult for a woman my age to get married because I'm considered too old," she said. "Moreover, the economic situation in Egypt is not as good as in the Gaza Strip."

Another bride from Al-Arish said that she always been dreaming of marrying a Palestinian. "Palestinian men are better than Egyptian men," the 27-year-old said. "They know how to look after their wives and provide for them a decent living." [emphasis added]

Considering the billions that the US pours into Egypt, it's kind of odd to hear that living in Gaza is an Egyptian woman's idea of prosperity--and a busha to Egytians.

As far as women dreaming of marrying a Palestinian--I sincerely hope they are right. But Israelis for years had dreams of a better life with Palestinian Arabs, and have precious little to show for it.

Technorati Tag: Israel.