The spectacle at the Egypt-Gaza border exposed an ongoing practice: Arabs will not help each other sufficiently even when cooperation is crucial.


This confirms, of course, that the conflict between Israel and the Arabs will never be solved at this rate. Any measure of success depends on cooperation among the Arabs.


Yes, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak allowed thousands of Gazans to flow into Egypt on Wednesday, January

Mubarak would have risked a bloodbath.

23, but what choice did he have? After Hamas blew up portions of the barrier separating Egypt and Gaza, Mubarak would have risked a bloodbath if he literally went against the flow. At this writing, he is trying to shut the door - with little success.


A number of Egyptians were helpful to the Gazans, but in doing so they ignored the policies of the Egyptian government.


Israel regularly gets dumped on by critics for the travails of the poor Palestinians. Why must Israel be such a meanie? Israel’s closure of the borders prevents many goods and supplies from moving in and out of Gaza.


Israel’s lame excuse is that Hamas maintains authoritarian control of Gaza and persists in seeking Israel’s destruction. Israel also makes the excuse that Hamas and other terrorist groups use Gaza as a literal launching pad for rockets aimed at Sderot and other towns in southern Israel. At least the Israelis do not whine much about the ongoing detention of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who was captured by terrorists more than one and a half years ago.


Us Jews are never at a loss for excuses, are we? Talking about excuses, if anyone should check the map, one might notice that Israel is not the only neighbor of Gaza and the West Bank. Look closely and one will find that Gaza borders a country known as Egypt in the south. The West Bank shares an even larger border with a country known as Jordan, to the east.


Where have they been? If they lack for money, where have Saudi Arabia and all the other oil-producing Arab states been? The people of Gaza and the West Bank are their people. They worship in the same faith and share similar customs and traditions.


Unlike Tevya of Fiddler on the Roof, Arabs are probably not anxious to brag about some of their traditions - the ongoing infighting among clans and tribes, Sunnis and Shiites, and the various militant factions. Not to mention blood feuds and honor killings. Most Arab societies have been unable to combine democracy with functioning governments. Most of the countries that have been united are held together by authoritarian regimes.


Interestingly, a few Israeli officials suggested that Egypt take full responsibility for Gaza’s needs, and Mubarak has refused. Jordan’s King Abdullah II said months ago that Jordan will not get involved with governing the West Bank.


Of course, their predecessors attacked Israel not only to seize control of Gaza and

Unlike Tevya of Fiddler on the Roof, Arabs are probably not anxious to brag about some of their traditions.

the West Bank, but to crush the Jewish state. Israel actually captured Gaza twice, but returned the land to Egypt after the first conquest in 1956. After Israel seized both Gaza and the West Bank in 1967, Jordan and Egypt failed to retrieve the territories in 1973.


It is understandable why they now want nothing to do with Gaza and the West Bank. Their countries have enough problems without inheriting the woes of Israel’s territories, and they correctly fear that Palestinian extremists will try to undermine their governments. Certainly, I acknowledge that Egypt is under Israeli and American pressure to prevent the shipment of weapons that would threaten Israel’s security.


There is also no end to severe internal conflicts within Jordan, Egypt, Gaza and the West Bank. Fatah, under Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, could not hold onto Gaza and has yet to control terrorism in the West Bank.


To recall the proverbial saying, some of the Arabs’ old habits had better die if they do not want more of their brethren to die before their time.