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The weekly was questioning him about "reports concerning the construction by Egypt of a steel barrier along the border with Gaza and the deployment in the border area of American equipment to detect tunnels" used by smugglers moving goods into the Palestinian enclave.
It was the closest confirmation so far that Egypt is building the barrier to stem smuggling into Gaza through underground tunnels, since a report Thursday in the government paper Al-Gomhuria.
"The barrier ... is the same barrier that currently exists but with the addition of underground foundations," the newspaper said in a front-page editorial, confirming that work was underway on the barrier.
Previously security sources had only confirmed witness reports anonymously, while Israel's Haaretz newspaper said the barrier will reach a depth of 30 metres (100 feet) and 10 kilometres long (six miles).
Abul Gheit told Al-Ahram Al-Arabi: "Egypt has the right to control its border."
"The Palestinian cause is dear to our heart and the Egyptians have paid a heavy price defending this cause, but Egyptian territory and its security are more important than anything else," the foreign minister said.
A network of tunnels beneath the Egypt-Gaza border provide a crucial economic lifeline to Gaza, which has been sealed off from all but vital humanitarian aid by Israel and Egypt since Hamas took over in June 2007.
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It was the closest confirmation so far that Egypt is building the barrier to stem smuggling into Gaza through underground tunnels, since a report Thursday in the government paper Al-Gomhuria.
"The barrier ... is the same barrier that currently exists but with the addition of underground foundations," the newspaper said in a front-page editorial, confirming that work was underway on the barrier.
Previously security sources had only confirmed witness reports anonymously, while Israel's Haaretz newspaper said the barrier will reach a depth of 30 metres (100 feet) and 10 kilometres long (six miles).
Abul Gheit told Al-Ahram Al-Arabi: "Egypt has the right to control its border."
"The Palestinian cause is dear to our heart and the Egyptians have paid a heavy price defending this cause, but Egyptian territory and its security are more important than anything else," the foreign minister said.
A network of tunnels beneath the Egypt-Gaza border provide a crucial economic lifeline to Gaza, which has been sealed off from all but vital humanitarian aid by Israel and Egypt since Hamas took over in June 2007.
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