Cablegate: Sinai Residents Angry Over Potential Goe Plans To

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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHEG #2689 2421337
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301337Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6744
INFO RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1543
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0865
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS CAIRO 002689

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER KPAL IS EG
SUBJECT: SINAI RESIDENTS ANGRY OVER POTENTIAL GOE PLANS TO
REMOVE BUILDINGS AT BORDER

REF: CAIRO 2455

Sensitive but unclassified. Not for internet distribution.

(SBU) According to a press report, Rafah city residents
remain angry over the possibility that the GOE will remove
buildings within 150 meters of the Gaza border in order to
enhance security. A member of the North Sinai Tagammu party,
Ashraf el Hefny, told a reporter from Egypt's "Daily News"
that the GOE is prohibiting new building permits within 150
meters of the border and refusing to grant water or
electricity permits for buildings within 300 meters of the
border. A GOE contact denied the claims about the permits
and reiterated that internal GOE discussions on this issue
are in the early stages, and that Egypt expects considerable
opposition from the locals (see reftel) and is taking
residents' concerns into consideration.
RICCIARDONE

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