Egypt deepens its collaboration with Israel

Both have taken Arafat’s death and a second term for US president George W. Bush as a cue for a Middle Eastern version of détente of a type not seen since Egypt became the first of the Arab states to recognise the Zionist state in 1979.

In a clear reference to the death of Arafat, Egyptian diplomat Tariq al-Quoni, interviewed in Ha’aretz, explained that “several factors in recent months have improved the atmosphere.” But there is also major pressure being exerted by Washington for Egypt to lead the way in pressurising all the Arab states to work more closely with Israel. Egypt and Israel have long been major recipients of US aid and cornerstones of its geopolitical strategy.

High-level talks between Cairo and Tel Aviv recently came close to agreement in discussions on enhancing border security arrangements. Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met with the respective foreign ministers, Ahmad Abu al-Geit and Silvan Shalom, Egyptian Director of Intelligence Omar Suleiman, and Israeli Defence Minister Shaoul Mofaz. The main issue was to ensure that Egypt will be able to police the Palestinian masses in the Gaza Strip following Sharon’s planned withdrawal.

Israeli officials had agreed last October to an increase in Egyptian forces without the need to alter the Camp David Agreement. Outstanding points now include the number of Egyptian forces to deploy and the level of armament they will carry. The Egyptians proposed deploying 750 lightly armed forces and (for public consumption) are demanding the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, including troops at the border area in Rafah.

In November three policemen were killed by Israeli shellfire in the Egyptian section of Rafah. In an unusually muted response, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak accepted Sharon’s apology and his promise that it wouldn’t happen again. Last week Mubarak went so far as to call Sharon the Palestinians’ best chance for peace.

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http://wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/egyp-d18.shtml