Egypt, Jordan Fear Fallout From Gaza War

As Israel's Gaza offensive wears on, officials in bordering Egypt and Jordan worry that the carnage is imperiling the possibility of a two-state Israel-Palestine solution. Egypt and to a lesser extent, Jordan, fear that responsibility for the humanitarian crisis there will fall to them, and that they may be forced to absorb Palestinian refugees, reports the New York Times.

Egypt and Jordan have faced disapproval from Iran, Syria, Hamas, and Hezbollah, the quartet of powers fighting against a two-state solution. And in Egypt particularly, the government has faced withering criticism for its tacit approval of the operation and its refusal to open the border crossing into Sinai. But as one diplomat in Cairo said, "Gaza is no longer Egypt’s responsibility, and Egypt is determined not to take it back." (More Egypt stories.)