PA welcomes Egyptian campaign to destroy Gaza tunnels

Egyptian military vehicles arrive to Sinai in preparation for the demolition of tunnels A senior Fatah official said Saturday that the Palestinian Authority (PA) supports Egypt's efforts to shut down a tunnel network under the border with the Gaza Strip. Secretaty-General of the PA Presidency, Tayyeb Abdelrahim, said the PA considers the tunnels as "pathways of vandalism," and backs Egypt's fight against terrorist groups in Sinai by closing them down.
"The tunnels have recently become a threat to Egypt's security, and they harm reconciliation between Gaza's rulers Hamas and his Fatah party as well as damaging Egypt's relationship with Palestinians," he said in a statement which Arabstoday received a copy of.
Egypt closed its borders with the Gaza Strip and launched a campaign to destroy the tunnels that extend across the border between Egypt's Sinai and Gaza as a result of a border attack on Sunday August 5 in which unknown gunmen killed 16 Egyptian border guards.
Egyptian sources said on Friday that some 150 tunnels had been already destroyed by the Egyptian army, the total number of tunnels is expected to be much more.
Tayyeb Abdelrahim denied that the tunnels had contributed to its economic recovery.
"The tunnels only serve a small category of stakeholders and private interests and those who are inconsiderate of Egypt and Palestine’s higher interests," he said.
He stressed that the West Bank-based PA dedicates half its budget to Gaza Strip stating "The government is serious about cooperating with Egypt to confront common challenges and risks to serve the interest of both nations."
Hamas leader Salah al-Bardawil immediately hit back decrying the PA position as "despicable opportunism which contradicts all values, ethics and national responsibilities."
Bardawil called on the Fatah-led government to stop participating in the siege on Gaza.
"We are looking forward to the day when the blockade is ended in addition to the demolition of the tunnels and we are sure that the wise Egyptian leadership will not leave the Palestinian people under siege," he said.
Meanwhile, Some 1,500 Palestinians returned to the Gaza Strip on Friday as Egypt's border crossing was partially reopened after a four-day closure, the interior ministry in Gaza said.
The Hamas run ministry added that the crossing would open again Saturday for people returning to Gaza, but would remain closed to those trying to leave the strip.
Egypt opened the Rafah crossing on Friday to allow the return of pilgrims from Saudi Arabia and those stranded on their way back to Gaza. Egyptian border security did not say how long it would stay open.
Hamas' Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh pledged support for Egypt's investigations into the attack but urged it to reopen the border crossing in a speech made during a Ramadan Iftar ceremony on Thursday.
"I call upon my brother, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, to open the Rafah crossing, to regain a lifeline for Gaza."
Another Hamas official, Ahmed Bahar told worshipers at a Gaza mosque on Friday, that the Rafah crossing should remain open for goods and for people "When this happens there will be no need for tunnels," he said.
"Tunnels were an exceptional measure. When we have a free trade corridor, this issue will come to an end," he added.