Egypt deploys troops along Gaza border
By YAAKOV KATZ The Jerusalem Post 01/31/2011 01:59
http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=205946

With Israeli permission, Egypt sets up troops to avoid terrorist
infiltrations across Gazan border.

Egyptian security forces beefed up their presence along the border with the
Gaza Strip on Sunday in a bid to stop Hamas operatives from crossing between
the two countries amid concerns that terror groups will take advantage of
the anarchy in Egypt to launch attacks against that country and Israel.

Israeli defense officials said the troop increase was undertaken in
coordination with the Defense Ministry because, under the peace treaty
between the countries, Egypt is not allowed to deploy large numbers of
soldiers along its border with Israel.

The deployment came amid reports that Egypt had also ordered Hamas to cease
all its tunnel activities along the Philadelphi Corridor. On Sunday, a
number of Hamas operatives, including the group’s commander for Khan Younis,
escaped from a jail in Egypt and were believed to be making their way back
to the Gaza Strip.

“The Egyptians are cracking down on Hamas,” a senior Israeli defense
official said on Sunday.

Throughout the day, the IDF and Defense Ministry held consultations
regarding the continued unrest in Egypt. Senior Israeli politicians and
officials were in touch with Egyptian government officials, and contact was
established directly between Israel and Egypt’s new vice president, Omar
Suleiman.

Israel’s concern is that the Muslim Brotherhood will use the ongoing
demonstrations to garner public support and eventually take over Egypt.
Israeli officials who were in touch with Egyptians on Sunday expressed
confidence in Suleiman’s ability to take control of the military and prevent
a regime change.

“This is the end of Hosni Mubarak’s presidency, but the situation could be
brought under control by Suleiman,” the senior defense official said.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke with US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
on Sunday to discuss the situation.