The agreement allows the Egyptians to deploy 750 border guards along the route - in violation of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty mandating the demilitarization of the Sinai Desert.
The Cabinet approved the agreement by an 18-2 margin; voting against were Education Minister Limor Livnat and Minister Tzachi HaNegbi. It must still be approved by the Knesset, where even though the debate is expected to be spirited and tense, the arrangement is projected to be approved.
Israel's main concern is that weapons not be smuggled from Egypt into Gaza, as they have been via tunnels for the past several years. Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz said today, "We can impose a veto on any transfer of weapons from Egypt to the Palestinian Authority. Even though the Palestinians are not a party to this agreement, we have tools we can use to make sure they don't harm the agreement."
His confidence might be misplaced, however. The agreement states that Israeli personnel are to man two checkpoints between Gaza and Egypt, thus ensuring that no weapons are smuggled through. It has been learned, though, that nothing in the agreement precludes Egypt from opening another checkpoint, unmanned by Israel.
"Egypt has committed not to transfer weapons to Gaza," said analyst Dr. Aaron Lerner, "but there's nothing stopping them from allowing other Arab elements to do so."
Lerner asked Raanan Gissin, Prime Minister Sharon's Foreign Media Advisor, about this matter. Gissin replied that once Israel leaves the Philadelphi Corridor, Egypt has the right to open another passageway without Israel's consent.
MK Yuval Shteinitz (Likud), who heads the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, has long and strenuously opposed allowing Egypt a foot in the door near Gaza. He could not be reached for comment this afternoon, due to an important sub-committee meeting he was chairing.
MK Ehud Yatom (Likud), a member of the above committee, did deign to comment, however - but just barely. "It makes absolutely no difference if there is an Israeli presence at the crossings or not," he said. "The very fact that we have allowed the Egyptians to be present along the Philadelphi Route means that we have lost all control there. We have lost this battle."
Prime Minister Sharon agreed that the IDF must relinquish control of the Philadelphi Route in order that he can say that Israel has totally withdrawn from the Gaza Strip. To ensure that arms smuggling does not continue, however, Israel wants Egypt to take responsibility - even though Egyptian control of the Sinai has not prevented thousands of rifles and more from being smuggled in to Gaza over the past years.
The agreement stipulates that three Egyptian Navy boats are to patrol and guard the coastline 24 hours a day. The 750 Egyptian border guards will be supported by armored personnel carriers, RPGs, assault rifles, light machine guns, jeeps and quad bikes.