Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA 19 August 2008

Israel Radio Arab Affair correspondent Gal Berger reported on the noon news
program that both Hamas and PA-Fatah have rejected the Egyptian proposal.

According to Berger, one reason that PA-Fatah (headed by Mahmoud Abbas)
rejected the proposal is that it provides for reforming the PLO.

It would appear that Israel did not take a position on the proposal to send
thousands of Arab troops to the gates of Ashkelon. It would also appear
that the Olmert team has never actually thought through the many potentially
disastrous scenarios possible associated with the injection of 3,000 foreign
Arab troops into the Gaza Strip. But then again - it isn't clear if the
Olmert team has seriously thought through the ramifications of any policy
decision.

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Egypt Wants to Send Troops to Gaza
by Hillel Fendel
Published: 08/19/08, 10:22 AM
www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/127251

(IsraelNN.com) As the end of Mahmoud Abbas's term as PA Chairman approaches,
much Hamas-Fatah strife is expected. Egypt has offered to send troops to
Gaza, but Hamas refuses.
Egypt has proposed a 14-point peace plan, but like previous arrangements
suggested by Yemen and Saudi Arabia, it does not appear to have great
chances for success. Among its proposals are the sending of Eygptian forces
to Gaza to buttress security.
The Arabic-language Al-Sharq Al-Aussat newspaper reports the details of the
Egyptian proposal in its Tuesday edition. Fatah and Hamas representatives
have been invited, or summoned, to Cairo, to hear the following Egyptian
suggestions, among others:
. An end to mutual incitement, the release of all prisoners, and the safe
return of all Gaza residents.
. The re-opening of Fatah institutions in Gaza and Hamas organizations in
Judea/Samaria that have been closed
. Acceptance of PLO's legitimacy and reforms in the organization to enable
integration of all groups according to their relative strength
. A freeze on Hamas police activity in Gaza
The above points are considered do-able, but the following four proposed
clauses are already known to be not acceptable to Hamas:
. Sending Arab forces, headed by Egypt, to Gaza to help maintain security.
. Authorizing an Arab security group, headed by Egypt, to resolve
Fatah-Hamas disputes on internal security matters.
. The establishment of a transient government before new PA elections this
coming March.
. Hamas must accept all of the PA's international obligations -
specifically, the recognition of Israel and the like.
Egypt is concerned that if Fatah and Hamas do not reach a framework of
cooperation within the coming months, violence is likely to break out in
Gaza along the lines of the Hamas conquest of Gaza from Fatah in the summer
of 2007.
Egypt accused Hamas this week of stalling negotiations on the release of
captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Egyptian Intelligence Chief Gen. Omar
Suleiman demanded of Khaled Mashaal - Syria-based head of the Hamas
diplomatic desk - that Hamas stop placing obstacles in the way of Shalit's
release. Hamas has raised its demands of late, while Egypt demands to be
reinstated as the official mediator in the talks between Hamas and Israel.