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Palestinian Factions Oppose Egyptian Role in Gaza
The main Palestinian militant factions have united to oppose any security role Egypt might take in Gaza if Israel quits the territory, casting doubt over Egyptian efforts to mediate a smooth pullout. A statement by the 10 factions late on Monday put them at odds with the Palestinian Authority, which is due to hold potentially decisive talks with a top envoy from Cairo on Wednesday to discuss a possible Egyptian presence. "We deplore and are astonished at talk of a security role by Arab parties in Gaza and the West Bank," the militant groups said after a meeting of exiled leaders in Syria. They said such a role would make it look "as if the Palestinian people were the problem, not the occupation."
"Hey, looky here! A clue!"
Egypt has offered to help train Palestinian security forces to fill a vacuum in Gaza once Israel removes Jewish settlements and troops from occupied land. The possibility that Jordan could send in security experts has also been raised. Palestinian officials say Egypt will only send up to 200 security advisers if it has agreement from the militants and if a cease-fire is agreed with Israel. Among factions behind Monday's statement were Hamas, Islamic Jihad and a wing of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement -- although the Palestinian president has welcomed Egyptian involvement and Fatah in Gaza said it had nothing to do with the document.
Posted by: Steve 2004-06-22
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=36146