The Knesset is scheduled to debate the issue of outposts in Yesha, at the request of some opposition parties. Peace Now, Labor, and Meretz claim that the government is "taking its time" in evacuating the outposts. Of the original list of 15 Yesha outposts that Prime Minister Sharon planned to dismantle since the Road Map was accepted, 13 have been dismantled - including three that were populated.
A planned visit of Labor MKs to Gush Etzion has been pushed off. The visit was to take place today, but Gush Etzion Regional Council chief Sha'ul Goldstein chose to postpone it in light of recent statements by Labor MKs in favor of the dismantling of Gush Katif communities. Goldstein told Arutz-7's Ariel Kahane that the visit might take place two months from now, "as I am in favor of dialogue with the left-wing."
gov and pol
Egypt "Could Do More" About The Tunnels
PA leader Abu Mazen is beginning an international trip with a visit to Cairo today, and will end it with a meeting in Washington with U.S. President Bush at the end of the week. "Egyptian involvement does not end there," noted Arutz-7's Ariel Kahane. He said that Defense Minister Mofaz confirmed yesterday that Egypt is passively helping the PA dig tunnels 30 to 70 meters deep under Rafiach for arms smuggling. Mofaz told the Cabinet that Egypt knows about the tunnel construction and is doing nothing to stop it.
Dr. Eran Lerhman, a former senior IDF Intelligence officer, told Kahane today that Egypt has an excuse:
"The peace agreement with Egypt states that high-level Egyptian forces are not permitted to man the border. For this reason, Israel must begrudgingly accept the fact that the forces there are mediocre and down. This is reflected in the high amount of smuggling in the region, not only of weapons, and also in the difficulties in controlling the PA actions there. I don't think that Egypt has a real interest in heating up the area there, but they could certainly do more to stop the smuggling of arms and the digging of the underground tunnels if they wanted to."