Egypt has reached an understanding with the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, over means of consolidating Palestinian national unity and over preparations for the stage that would follow Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip, according to Egyptian press reports.
The Cairo-based Al-Ahram daily said that Egypt was expected to conclude a similar agreement with Yasser Arafat's Fatah Movement and later with other Palestinian factions.
The paper, quoted by Hamas website, said that a comprehensive agreement, inked by all factions, was expected by mid-September. It will be coronated by approving a national Palestinian working program that would prepare the internal scene for the post withdrawal era and impose respect for supremacy of the law and order in the areas evacuated by Israeli forces.
The newspaper quoted a reliable source as saying that the agreements would focus on strengthening the Palestinian Authority’s status in the Palestinian lands to enable it impose discipline following the purported Israeli withdrawal.
Within this context, Egypt asked the PA to nominate 45 officers for training in Cairo next month, Al-Ahram reported, adding that Cairo had simultaneously expedited a security delegation to Israel to negotiate over means of controlling the Egyptian borders with the Gaza Strip, including the so-called Philadelphi axis.
The paper revealed that an agreement was reached by which Egypt would deploy border guards along that axis instead of policemen without having to negotiate a change in the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty.
The paper quoted the unidentified sources as saying that Cairo had set four conditions to start implementing that plan:
1-Full (Israeli) withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
2-Prohibitng any closure of the Strip that should be open for uninturrupted contact with the outside world, including the re-opening of the Gaza Airport and sea harbor.
3-Establishing contact between the Strip and the West Bank.
4-The Israelis should not re-occupy the Strip.
The paper further disclosed that the PA government was expected to undergo a reshuffle within the few coming days covering three or four cabinet portfolios. (albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
