Israel Closely Watches Arab Spring

04:55

May 30, 2011

and fully reopened its passenger crossing with Gaza at the town of Rafah, after a long period of restrictions aimed at isolating the Hamas militant group that rules the Palestinian coastal strip. (AP)

Egypt's new government has relaxed restrictions at its border with the Gaza Strip, allowing many Palestinians to cross freely for the first time in four years. But the move is rattling the Israeli government, which is accustomed to former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's cooperation - more or less - to keep Gaza sealed up.

Now Israel says militants can flow out and weapons can flood in through the Rafah crossing. The BBC's Kevin Connolly reports on Israel's reaction to the Arab spring in Egypt and beyond.

This segment aired on May 30, 2011.