diplomatic confusion

What mixed up craziness....As I reported last Wednesday the US Embassy said they knew nothing of Egypt's regulation that they must send documents of Americans wishing to go to Gaza. Yolanda, the supervisor I dealt with told me my questions were the first time she'd heard of it.

We had the three day Eid holiday and she was to call me on Monday...when I hadn't heard anything I called her around two finding out she had a call in to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry...she didn't call back. When she hadn't called yesterday I decided to wait it out until today and call her around eleven. She beat me to it!

Apparently my news of the new regulation was news to everyone in the embassy. After checking with the Egyptian Foreign Ministry they found I was in fact correct but had not been told the whole story. The Egyptians want some type acknowledgement from the US Embassy that they know/approve/allow/recognize the person is going to Gaza. The US is totally shocked. It's my opinion they have pretty much ignored the issue after the affidavit has been signed; which does put the responsibility on Egypt.

This has caused major diplomatic upset. Our Embassy has been dealing with Washington Foreign Service and their legal department....Yolanda tried to make an appointment with the ambassador and couldn't get one until a week and a half from today...Guess I'm not the only one who has to wait for appointments.

It will probably take weeks to resolve the controversy... diplomacy moves slowly. Which is not good for me. However, Yolanda is proposing to the Egyptians and US that I be allowed into Gaza under the old agreement while they negotiate a new one. She brought that up; I was thinking about putting that forward myself and didn't even have to. I said earlier the woman can think and think out of the box.

and again I wait! This should probably be the final wait...I have to see what Yolanda advises.

I want so badly to be successful...go to Gaza...experience the children...get to know Mona and Talal and others at New Horizon and Mona's water purification project with UNRWA. It will be such a disappointment if I'm not allowed in....more than a disappointment. I'm hopeful but have to be realistic...I can't think of other appeals to make.; this is probably the end of the road. And the road needs to lead to Gaza!!

Keep me in your thoughts, please..