While noting in an interview with Israel Radio that PA president Mahmoud Abbas is committed to maintaining security while the planned Israeli withdrawal from Gush Katif proceeds, Dahlan warned that Israeli failure to withdraw from the border area with Egypt would turn the Philadelphi Route into another "Shab'a Farms", referring to an area along the Israeli border with Lebanon that Hizbullah terrorists demand Israel evacuate. The Shab'a Farms, or Mount Dov area, has been a frequent target of attack by Hizbullah forces.
Israeli control of the Philadelphi Route has been central to the fight against smugglers bringing weapons into Israel and the Palestinian Authority by way of tunnels from the Egyptian side of the border. Dahlan is promising Israel that if all IDF troops are withdrawn from the route, the PA would make certain weapons smuggling from Egypt is halted completely, and all weapons tunnels would be destroyed. However, he explained, the PA would do so only for internal reasons and not specifically to aid Israel.
Earlier this month, Egyptian officials stated that Israel and Egypt are working on an agreement to allow Egyptian troops to patrol the Philadelphi Route. And last month, Labor ministers Shimon Peres and Matan Vilnai both said that the Israeli evacuation from Gush Katif must include the strategic route if the withdrawal is to be "accepted" by the international community. (For an account of Wednesday's Knesset vote on the withdrawal, see http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=77015.)
Dahlan, a negotiator and security figure for the PA, also complained that Israel has thus far failed to live up to agreements to turn over Jericho, a strategic road in Jericho's environs, and other cities to PA control.
Watch Israeli Salad on IsraelNNTV:
Right wing observant artist Avner Bar Hama
2 new robots developed at the College of Judea and Samaria
Idol worship after divine revelation - how?
Israeli control of the Philadelphi Route has been central to the fight against smugglers bringing weapons into Israel and the Palestinian Authority by way of tunnels from the Egyptian side of the border. Dahlan is promising Israel that if all IDF troops are withdrawn from the route, the PA would make certain weapons smuggling from Egypt is halted completely, and all weapons tunnels would be destroyed. However, he explained, the PA would do so only for internal reasons and not specifically to aid Israel.
Earlier this month, Egyptian officials stated that Israel and Egypt are working on an agreement to allow Egyptian troops to patrol the Philadelphi Route. And last month, Labor ministers Shimon Peres and Matan Vilnai both said that the Israeli evacuation from Gush Katif must include the strategic route if the withdrawal is to be "accepted" by the international community. (For an account of Wednesday's Knesset vote on the withdrawal, see http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=77015.)
Dahlan, a negotiator and security figure for the PA, also complained that Israel has thus far failed to live up to agreements to turn over Jericho, a strategic road in Jericho's environs, and other cities to PA control.