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Israel sees weapons flow from Egypt reaching crisis proportions
Israel's military has been pitted against the government in the debate over a response to Egypt's failure to halt the flow of weapons and operatives to the Palestinian insurgency. Officials said the dispute between the military and the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon erupted as Palestinian insurgency groups have tried to smuggle rockets and heavy weapons from the Sinai Peninsula to the Gaza Strip. They said that despite repeated Israeli and U.S. appeals, Egypt has failed to crack down on the weapons smuggling rings that operate in Cairo, El Arish and the divided city of Rafah.Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Moshe Ya'alon has advocated a tough approach to the Egyptian government, Middle East Newsline reported. Officials said Ya'alon and other generals want Sharon to warn the United States that Egypt's refusal to secure its eastern border could threaten regional stability and torpedo Israel's plan to unilaterally withdraw from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank. "The General Staff sees the flow of weapons from Egypt as a strategic danger that will eventually provide the Palestinians with everything they need to attack Israeli cities," a senior military source said. "If something is not done now, then it will get much worse and our relations with Egypt will become endangered." On Wednesday, Israeli National Security Council director Maj. Gen. Giora Eiland was expected to discuss Egypt during a meeting with Bush administration officials in Washington. Officials said Eiland's talks were meant to focus on the government's withdrawal plan, including U.S. help to finance the resettlement of about 10,000 Israelis in the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank. Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-09-24 |
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