[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: Egypt has always denied that arms were reaching
Gaza through Egypt. At times, when Israel complained, President Mubarak
would warn that if we continued to complain that there would be diplomatic
consequences. The experience serves to illustrate just how great a mistake
it was to abandon the Philadelphi Corridor [that separated between the Gaza
Strip and Sinai] as part of PM Sharon's retreat.]

Cairo denies reports of arms smuggling through Egypt
Published Friday 10/06/2011 (updated) 11/06/2011 18:53
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=395509

EL-ARISH, Egypt (Ma'an) -- Military leaders in the Sinai Peninsula on Friday
denied allegations that new smuggling routes had been established through
Egypt into Gaza.

The Hebrew-language newspaper Maariv on Friday said Israeli security
officials had received information that weapons were being smuggled from
Libya to the Gaza Strip via Egypt.

According to the report, the uprising against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi
had allowed the flow of arms into the hands of arms dealers and "terror
organizations" in Libya.

Grad rockets with ranges of 60 - 70 kilometers, rifles and ammunition were
being smuggled through Egypt and into Gaza via underground tunnels, the
report said.

Egyptian military sources denied the report, and said no weapons entered
Egypt from Libya, noting that officers inspected all passengers entering
from Libya through As-Saloum crossing.

The sources added that Egyptian security guards recently seized eight tons
of drugs at the crossing.