Sayeret
10-15-2004, 04:56 PM
Egypt is interested in training a special Palestinian unit to put an end to the firing of Kassam rockets from Gaza, Egyptian Intelligence chief Omar Suleiman told US Congressmen in Washington last week.
According to diplomatic officials in Jerusalem, Suleiman who met with Democratic congressmen Tom Lantos, Howard Berman, and Robert Wexler also said that Egypt plans to deploy troops along the border with Israel by the beginning of 2005.
The meetings took place before last Thursday night's terrorist attacks in Sinai, and Suleiman's comment about deploying along the border came when asked what Egypt is doing to fight arms-smuggling into Gaza.
The issue has taken on a greater urgency since the Sinai bombings, although it has been on the Israeli-Egyptian agenda since the spring. The Egyptians have indicated they are interested in an exchange of letters with Israel that would permit them to deploy these troops.
Neither side wants to re-open the 1979 Israeli-Egyptian peace agreement, because of concern that if one article is changed, there will be demands to alter other sections as well.
According to the treaty, the Egyptians are only allowed to have civilian police armed with light weapons in the area. During the summer, the two sides were talking about an exchange of letters that would allow the introduction of between 100 and 130 border patrolmen on the Egyptian side of the Gaza border, who would be more heavily armed and better able to battle the smugglers.
Israeli diplomatic officials said that Israel is interested in Egypt taking responsibility for the border area, and more actively fighting arms smuggling.
Regarding the idea of Egypt training the Palestinians to stop the Kassam rockets, the officials said the issue is not one of training, rather the Palestinians must first demonstrate a willingness to combat the launches.
Suleiman also met in Washington with US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and discussed Israel's military activity in Gaza. According to diplomatic officials, Suleiman asked Rice to pass three messages on to Jerusalem: that Israel allow humanitarian aid to reach the Palestinians; that Israel declare the operation is temporary and will end soon; and that Israel talk to the Palestinian Authority in order to coordinate the disengagement from Gaza.
According to reports reaching Jerusalem, Rice agreed to the request about humanitarian aid, didn't promise anything about asking Israel to declare the operation "temporary," and did not accept Suleiman's request to pressure Israel to talk to the PA about disengagement, saying there is no one to talk to.
According to diplomatic officials in Jerusalem, Suleiman who met with Democratic congressmen Tom Lantos, Howard Berman, and Robert Wexler also said that Egypt plans to deploy troops along the border with Israel by the beginning of 2005.
The meetings took place before last Thursday night's terrorist attacks in Sinai, and Suleiman's comment about deploying along the border came when asked what Egypt is doing to fight arms-smuggling into Gaza.
The issue has taken on a greater urgency since the Sinai bombings, although it has been on the Israeli-Egyptian agenda since the spring. The Egyptians have indicated they are interested in an exchange of letters with Israel that would permit them to deploy these troops.
Neither side wants to re-open the 1979 Israeli-Egyptian peace agreement, because of concern that if one article is changed, there will be demands to alter other sections as well.
According to the treaty, the Egyptians are only allowed to have civilian police armed with light weapons in the area. During the summer, the two sides were talking about an exchange of letters that would allow the introduction of between 100 and 130 border patrolmen on the Egyptian side of the Gaza border, who would be more heavily armed and better able to battle the smugglers.
Israeli diplomatic officials said that Israel is interested in Egypt taking responsibility for the border area, and more actively fighting arms smuggling.
Regarding the idea of Egypt training the Palestinians to stop the Kassam rockets, the officials said the issue is not one of training, rather the Palestinians must first demonstrate a willingness to combat the launches.
Suleiman also met in Washington with US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and discussed Israel's military activity in Gaza. According to diplomatic officials, Suleiman asked Rice to pass three messages on to Jerusalem: that Israel allow humanitarian aid to reach the Palestinians; that Israel declare the operation is temporary and will end soon; and that Israel talk to the Palestinian Authority in order to coordinate the disengagement from Gaza.
According to reports reaching Jerusalem, Rice agreed to the request about humanitarian aid, didn't promise anything about asking Israel to declare the operation "temporary," and did not accept Suleiman's request to pressure Israel to talk to the PA about disengagement, saying there is no one to talk to.