It now appears that Israel's "unilateral" disengagement from Gaza will only occur if Egypt sets the precise terms. Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleimon is expected to arrive in Israel this week, and will lay down the conditions that both Israel and the PA must fulfill for Egypt to agree to the Israeli withdrawal.
Among the chief conditions for the PA is that Arafat must agree to cede his control over the military forces in Gaza. Only in such a case will Egypt agree to dispatch its security experts to train the Gazan Arab security force. The PA must also "request" the arrival of the experts, as opposed to having it appear that the Egyptians are coming on their own initiative.
Israel, for its part, must agree to halt all military activity in Gaza after its withdrawal. Israeli officials have repeatedly said that the IDF will be free to act in Gaza even after the retreat in order to fight terrorist activity. The disengagement plan itself, as published on May 28 of this year, states (Section 3-A-3), "Israel reserves the basic right of self-defense, including employing preventive actions and forceful responses against threats emanating from the Gaza Strip."
Furthermore, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today that Israel would not begin its canal project along the Israeli-Egyptian border's Philadelphi Route without Egypt's consent. The canal is being planned as a means by which to prevent the Palestinian arms-smuggling terrorists from digging tunnels under the border.
Opposition leader Shimon Peres, for his part, has laid down three conditions of his own. He said yesterday that he would not join the Likud-led government unless the government does the following: coordinates the retreat from Gaza with the Palestinian Authority; sets a clear timetable for the withdrawal; and begins negotiations regarding the final status of Judea and Samaria.
In the meanwhile, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is flying today to Germany for a medical operation - with anonymous Egyptian sources saying he has cancer. He was said to be considering, for the first time since assuming the Presidency 23 years ago, naming a successor/deputy. One of the candidates being mentioned is the aforementioned Suleimon.
Among the chief conditions for the PA is that Arafat must agree to cede his control over the military forces in Gaza. Only in such a case will Egypt agree to dispatch its security experts to train the Gazan Arab security force. The PA must also "request" the arrival of the experts, as opposed to having it appear that the Egyptians are coming on their own initiative.
Israel, for its part, must agree to halt all military activity in Gaza after its withdrawal. Israeli officials have repeatedly said that the IDF will be free to act in Gaza even after the retreat in order to fight terrorist activity. The disengagement plan itself, as published on May 28 of this year, states (Section 3-A-3), "Israel reserves the basic right of self-defense, including employing preventive actions and forceful responses against threats emanating from the Gaza Strip."
Furthermore, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today that Israel would not begin its canal project along the Israeli-Egyptian border's Philadelphi Route without Egypt's consent. The canal is being planned as a means by which to prevent the Palestinian arms-smuggling terrorists from digging tunnels under the border.
Opposition leader Shimon Peres, for his part, has laid down three conditions of his own. He said yesterday that he would not join the Likud-led government unless the government does the following: coordinates the retreat from Gaza with the Palestinian Authority; sets a clear timetable for the withdrawal; and begins negotiations regarding the final status of Judea and Samaria.
In the meanwhile, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is flying today to Germany for a medical operation - with anonymous Egyptian sources saying he has cancer. He was said to be considering, for the first time since assuming the Presidency 23 years ago, naming a successor/deputy. One of the candidates being mentioned is the aforementioned Suleimon.