Rafah Crossing

[Major Thom]

I notice Egypt are reluctant to open the Rafah Crossing from Gaza to the Sinia Desert, I thought they would aid another Arab Country, but then my senses clicked in and now I think no one as offered enough cash.....again ha ha, saying it because of Egypt's well known and publised dual economy, and the Countries thirst for US Dollars. I suppose if the tourist industry was buoyant, they could sell the hotels, but as it stands, with all deeds preventing free tourism, hotels will sell for next to nothing.

[Teddyboy]

We've been forcibly absent from Luxor these past 6 months, but as far as I'm aware the tourism is very good! Looking at the OWP and Cataract websites you'd struggle to find a room most days.

[Who2]

I crossed over there a few times about 40 years ago, the Israeli side was all white washed kerbs and roses with young good looking IDF girls checking ID's. On the egyptian side, another planet...........

Imagine a hanger with about 500 'irate sweaty jewish shoppers and their elbows, off to buy loads of cheap sh*t.
There was 5 small passport windows and at least 50 deep at each window.

Got the gang collected their passports and formed a triangle leaving one with the bags.
We battered our way through the masses to within 6ft of a 2' x 2' window,
the guy stared at me ignoring all the screaming surrounding mass and waved me forward.

"Assalam alaikum"

"wa alaikum assalam"


I said "Why ? he pointed at my tash and said "not jewish, 'enjoy Egypt.["/i]

That was my 1st visit to Egypt, I never looked back.
Our mates back in Tel aviv had organised all this and had us booked into an amazing walled 18-20 /club med old palace bang in the middle of Cairo, it's name has elude me ever since...

Ps: My weird humour...

[BENNU]

... ha ha

I understand that Palestinian people want to stay in their own country.

[A-Four]

We've been forcibly absent from Luxor these past 6 months, but as far as I'm aware the tourism is very good! Looking at the OWP and Cataract websites you'd struggle to find a room most days.

It certainly true that the tourist industry has improved recently, however we should not for one moment believe that everything in the garden that is Egypt is fine and dandy. The economy is in a real mess.

The Bank of Egypt has issued countless $ bonds with ever increasing return values that must be paid back in $. Egypt's external debt now stands at $165 Billion, the interest payable by 2024 is $26 Billion, in the past two years it has had fork almost $52 Billion.

Egypt has announced various bizarre measures to rake in taxes from mostly the poor and very poor. Recently it announced that all men who left Egypt without doing their national service (army) will be able to return home providing they pay $5,000 ( in hard currency). So successful has this been that it has been extended for a further period, this begs the question, if the rich in Egypt can send their sons abroad for a few months can they also claim exemption ?

[Teddyboy]

"to rake in taxes from mostly the poor and very poor"

As it has ever been, worldwide!

[A-Four]

"to rake in taxes from mostly the poor and very poor"

As it has ever been, worldwide!

That is very true Teddyboy, however, poverty is measured in different ways compared to the West and the third world countries, without even the mention of the present day situation in the likes of the Gaza or Sudan.

[Teddyboy]

Does anyone else wonder why so many Muslim majority countries seem to be so heartbreakingly poor, whilst they have so many fabulously wealthy individuals?

[Who2]

One wonders just how far the soon to be new Israeli security border will extend into gaza ?
Anyhow just read this in today PEye, I been reading The Eye since I was 16 years old cleaning the windows
of Boodle's in St James they had them in the toilets....

[Who2]

Having said all that, one needs to get into the minds of Israelis', Jews and Muslims.
Having an ex military israeli girlfriend helps and obviously an understanding of the 1948 creation of Israel.

They were originally thinking of giving them Uganda, true.
I was also on the last plane full of Falasha Jews (one of the lost wandering 12 tribes)
out of Ethiopia.

I should write a book, here is a long time ex-con mate who had a bar down on the beach where I lived in Nof Yam.
He taught me alot about Israelis' mentality.....

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-hermit-house

[Who2]

Mind you if I were Pres El Sisi I would get loads of money from the international community
and build a new city out past Rafah it's a lot of empty desert.

Oh! I forgot he tried that, how is new Cairo progressing ? Last time I drove down
the Alex Road it was full of empty developments bit like Hurghada I suppose...

[Who2]

As Matt Frei Ch4 news, normally lunches in C Kick it's good to see his tan improve whilst
reporting from the plush King David Hotel, with its' many bars but it's not that safe
the Irgun bombed it in 1948.

It was built by a wealthy Egyptian....

Ps: I'll bet their Oriental bar is packed with journos stealing stories and getting pi**ed..
Pss; Someone from my past got shot yesterday, they say it's suicide, but i reckon it's a case for Holmes...
Oh! and Nick is in The Whittington, burst ulcer..typical...he said "they made me sign a disclaimer"
I laughed and said "well they have to cover their arses" just to cheer him up...