Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., July 07, 2008 Tamuz 4, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:19 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Palestinians waiting to cross from Gaza into Egypt at the Rafah Crossing in the southern Gaza Strip last week. (AP) Last update - 13:32 13/06/2007 Olmert mulls int'l force to stop arms smuggling at Gaza-Egypt border By Aluf Benn, Yoav Stern and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondents The deployment of a multinational force along the Philadelphi Route in Rafah, on the Gaza-Egypt border, should be seriously considered, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Tuesday. The presence of an international force could help curb the smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip from Egypt, and halt the ongoing strengthening of the militant groups in the Gaza Strip. Olmert raised the likelihood of such a deployment following the continued internecine violence in the Gaza Strip that claimed the lives of at least 25 Palestinians Tuesday. Advertisement Speaking after a meeting with visiting Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen, Olmert said that "Western countries need to act soon to alter the situation in the Gaza Strip." Olmert suggested that the multinational force would be similar to the United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon. Olmert is likely to raise the idea of a multinational force during his talks with President George Bush in Washington next Tuesday. The idea of a such a force along the Philadelphi Route was proposed by the Foreign Ministry, and was presented during a meeting of the security cabinet three weeks ago, which centered on the situation in the Strip. According to the plan the force would serve to prevent the smuggling of arms from Sinai to the Gaza Strip in coordination with an Egyptian force operating on the Egyptian side of the border. The multinational force is not envisioned to have a role in preventing the clashes between Fatah and Hamas, or ending the Qassam rocket attacks. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni described the arms smuggling as the main "cause of terrorism" in the Gaza Strip, and proposed that the U.S. fund the building of a barrier that will prevent smuggling. Meanwhile, the continuing deterioration in Gaza led the prime minister to warn Tuesday that "if the Gaza Strip falls completely into the hands of Hamas, this will have regional implications." Noting that "Israel is defending and will continue to defend its citizens against the aggression of terrorist groups," Olmert recognized that "we cannot enter the Gaza Strip to fight the war of the Palestinian pragmatists [Fatah] against the extremist forces [Hamas]." However, Israel did consider the possibility of allowing the transfer of urgently needed military aid to the Fatah forces in the Gaza Strip. The idea did not gain approval. Also Tuesday, Jordan's King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak expressed concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the Gaza Strip. After a meeting in Cairo, they said they worry the infighting will spread to the West Bank. Egyptian and Jordanian sources were quoted in the Arab press as having expressed concern that an "Islamic Emirate of Hamas" will be set up in the Gaza Strip. One of the main fears of the Egyptian government is the impact a Hamas victory would have on the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest opposition group in Egypt. An Arab Web site, Ilaf, said these worries centered on a "regional spread" of fundamentalist elements in the Middle East. The Jordanian news agency Petra reported that King Abdullah and Egypt's Mubarak had emphasized the need for dialogue to resolve the intra-Palestinian conflict. "The internal conflict is something that should not happen and does not serve the Palestinian cause," a statement read. Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said that the Palestinian infighting had "enraged" Arab leaders, and it must stop. There is a great deal of frustration among Egyptian officials who have tried for months to assist Fatah and Hamas in reaching an accommodation. Osama el-Baz, a senior adviser to President Mubarak, told reporters in Cairo that "the Palestinians must help themselves so that we can be able to help them." Egyptian sources told Haaretz that the situation in the Gaza Strip is being closely followed. "We are promoting an effort that will bring about an end to the infighting on a permanent basis and prevent the constant outbreak of renewed fighting," the sources said. In recent weeks, aides of Egypt's chief of intelligence, Omer Suleiman, have held talks with the various Palestinian factions in an effort to reach agreement on a cease-fire. The Egyptians are preparing a document that will be presented to representatives of the various factions for agreement. Such a meeting was scheduled to take place late this month, but it has been postponed to July. In late June, representatives of the Quartet - the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia - are scheduled to meet in Egypt, and a meeting is being planned in parallel for representatives of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Killing spree Police conclude Jerusalem bulldozer killer acted alone. The Bar exam Attention celebrities: Israeli start-up company can save you from paparazzi   1.   Against Olmert , Livni and Meretz Int`l force proposal 06:14  |  Joseph E . 13/06/07   2.   Int`l force just what is needed!! 07:20  |  Esther 13/06/07   3.   it is over with gimmicks 07:39  |  arab 13/06/07   4.   at #3 08:02  |  ed 13/06/07   5.   WHY DOESNT OLMERT FOLLOW BURG 08:29  |  paul harris 13/06/07   6.   International Forces are in Lebanon 09:26  |  Daniel 13/06/07   7.   arabs in in the land od israel 07:42  |  david 0 07/07/08

Read & React Akiva Eldar: Terrorist reflected mood of thousands in J'lem Responses: 3 Yehuda Ben Meir: For a united J'lem, spare the terrorist's home Responses: 4 IDF to step up campaign against Hamas in West Bank Responses: 23 Israel to exhume bodies of Hezbollah men ahead of swap Responses: 29 Rosner's Domain On Israel-Diaspora relations, Israelis are quite clueless How good/bad is Obama's faith based initiative (WTR) Poll: Do you believe Israel might attack Iran? Young adult Jews prefer to marry Jews Back to Vietnam More Headlines 09:51 IDF to target Hamas' West Bank civilian network 07:45 Israel to exhume bodies of Hezbollah fighters ahead of swap 07:51 ANALYSIS / Is Syria usurping Egypt's role in the Palestinian conflict? 07:57 Hamas: Shalit deal progress to be kept secret, away from media 09:07 Police looking into suspicions of forged bills of land sale at Migron 08:41 Israeli arms company successfully tests Iron Dome anti-Qassam missile 09:42 China to distribute free Bibles during Olympic Games 09:57 Assimilation threatens to destroy Jewish community in former USSR 04:32 Ten months after govt. decision, Sderot schools remain unprotected 01:25 Stormy cabinet votes: No gov't inquest into Ramon case 22:31 Attention celebrities: Israeli start-up company can save you from paparazzi 04:51 For most Israeli contractors, green isn't an issue 07:23 Soccer / Benayoun quashes rumors of leaving beloved Liverpool Previous Editions Select Day 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul 01 jul 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun

Special Offers Advertisement Dan Hotels Israel Live the Legend & experience an Unforgettable Summer Vacation Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat Jerusalem of Gold Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved