[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: "Egyptian authorities regularly uncover weapons
caches and tunnels there." More accurately, Egyptian authorities regularly
uncover a few weapons caches and tunnels in order to be able to claim that
they are doing something - not enough to seriously impact the smuggling mind
you - but enough to be able to tell Ms. Rice that they are doing
something.]

Egypt uncovers three tunnels on border with Gaza strip
By DPA Last update - 20:59 05/07/2008
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/999094.html

Egyptian police uncovered three tunnels near the Rafah crossing on its
border with the Gaza Strip Saturday and seized weapons and explosives in the
strategic Sinai peninsula, according to security sources.

Police uncovered two tunnels in Barahma north of the Rafah border crossing
and a third tunnel south of the crossing, the sources said.

Quantities of fuel were found in the tunnels, the sources added without
giving further details.

Police also found TNT explosives in Hilwa near the town of Arish in northern
Sinai, and nine automatic rifles and ammunition in Muqdaba, in the centre of
the peninsula.

The Sinai desert in north-eastern Egypt is strategically important because
it borders Israel and the Gaza Strip and has been the scene of several wars
between the two countries.

Now it is a demilitarized zone in accordance with the peace treaty between
the two countries.

Israel has been pressing Egypt to stem weapons smuggling into the Gaza Strip
via the Sinai desert. Egyptian authorities regularly uncover weapons caches
and tunnels there.