Baksheesh ?
I learned a new word today … “baksheesh,” which means “a tip, present, or gratuity,” or in modern day vernacular, a “bribe.” In the Middle East marketplace, the souk culture is all about the baksheesh.
As everyone recalls, Egypt would not let any of those civilians trapped in Gaza escape into Egypt. The suspicion was that Egypt was worried that it would not be able to control those innocents fleeing the war in Gaza. To me that explanation was always suspect. Why not let them temporarily find safety in Egypt, and then when the conflict in Gaza was over, over time, escort all of them back to Gaza.
But could something else be playing a role?
Remember that age-old adage … “follow the money!”
From Townhall:
“Egypt built a formidable border wall It is impenetrable, militarized, and closely guarded with Egyptian troops and security forces. The way through it for Gazans seeking to get out of Gaza? Baksheesh. Upwards of $5,000 per person. It has also been a gateway for international aid and smuggling into Gaza resulting in over $88 million in profit to the holder of the border keys.
The holder of those keys is a Bedouin tribal leader named Ibrahim al-Organi, now the wealthiest man in northern Sinai. He has extremely close ties with Egyptian President al-Sisi, and more significantly, with al-Sisi’s son, General Mahmoud al-Sisi , the Deputy Chief of Egyptian intelligence.
“Every day there is additional evidence of Egyptian smuggling in Gaza. Intelligence on May 31, 2024 uncovered surface to air missiles smuggled into Rafah from Egypt. The large cache purportedly would have been used to take down IDF helicopters. How much money changed hands for Egypt to have turned a blind eye (or been complicit) in these types of smuggling operations?”
On the IDF’s first day of entry into Rafah in mid-May they discovered hundreds of tunnels with over 50 two-way underground tunnels between Rafah and Egypt. Dozens more cross-border tunnels have been discovered since, along the Rafah-Egypt border. Some tunnels were paved and wide enough for passage of full-sized cargo trucks.
Beyond hostage remains, the IDF seized hundreds of weapons and war materiel They discovered UN relief packages, food, cash, electrification, housing, office space, etc. An underground metropolis was built by Hamas in Rafah.
Assuming all of this is true, could it be that Joe Biden and cronies have been completely taken in by Egypt? I would rather believe that it is Biden’s naïveté as to what Egypt is doing, rather than believe his complicity with Egypt involved some baksheesh.
Hmmm!
6/5/24