With Egypt playing a critical role in securing Gaza, Israel reinitiates its campaign of intimidation and violence against Palestinians, reports Erica Silverman from Gaza Senior Fatah leader Samir Masharawi and senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniya met at a private villa in the Gaza Strip one evening at the end of July to iron out their differences over the timing and internal mechanisms for the upcoming legislative and municipal elections. After a consultative phone call was placed to Hamas leader Khaled Mashal in Damascus, the meeting resulted in a "paper of principles" declaring an end to internal clashes. The diplomatic host was the deputy chief of Egyptian Intelligence, Mustafa El-Bihairy. Last Thursday, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei praised Al-Bihairy for the Egyptian delegation's efforts towards building Palestinian national unity by negotiating between factions and revitalising Palestinian security forces at a time when joint economic and security concerns have become critical after Israel's withdrawal. "We will work hand- in-hand with the Egyptians to recognise Palestinian rights and to create a Palestinian state," President Mahmoud Abbas told Al-Ahram Weekly after a meeting in Gaza with faction leaders. An Egyptian security and political delegation comprised of over 50 persons arrived in Gaza about three months ago and will remain for at least another six. The security delegation contains about 30 officials, among them 12 senior officers who are working closely with Palestinian security officials, following on the ground training and reform. The Egyptian delegation has been pleased with the steps Palestinian security forces have followed thus far, taking into consideration their lack of equipment and the destruction their infrastructure sustained during the 2000-2005 Intifada. The Palestinian Authority (PA) and factions alike view the delegation as a neutral broker and their presence makes the Palestinians feel safe. The US and the EU view Egypt as a third party that is able to increase security in the region. The delegation has exercised this unique capacity to negotiate, often working behind the scenes to diffuse internal clashes. Egypt has been negotiating between the factions for years, most recently brokering the Cairo agreement in March which secured a "period of calm" between 13 Palestinian factions, reinforced mutual economic interests between Egyptians and Palestinians, and attempted to clarify PA electoral laws. A joint committee, including Islamic Jihad and Hamas, was also created to revamp the Palestinian Liberation Organisation. "The Egyptians are in touch with all Palestinian factions to convince them that an independent state will require national unity," stated Senior Fatah leader Samir Masharawi, who is responsible for inter-factional dialogue and is in touch with the delegation on a daily basis. Palestinians are in dire need of Egyptian support in negotiating with the Israelis and maintaining an internal dialogue. Last week, Israel returned to a policy of targeted assassinations of factional leadership after several rockets were launched into Israel, though at a press conference on Sunday night senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar vowed to maintain the truce. Al-Zahar is pleased with the role Egypt has taken. "Egyptian interests are to keep this area quiet before the elimination of the occupation, and also to achieve reconciliation inside Palestinian society, and to give the chance for elections," he told the Weekly. Al-Zahar hopes to see this relationship increased, describing Egypt as the Palestinian connection to the Arab and Muslim world. Islamic Jihad spokesperson Khaled Al-Batsh takes a similar stance, praising the Egyptian leadership and noting the benefit their strong relationship with the US might bring to Palestinian factions. Unlike Hamas, Al-Batsh asserted, "We cannot discuss an end to the resistance when Israel has deliberately attacked and killed our leader Mohamed Sheikh Khalil," who was assassinated by Israeli forces in Gaza Sunday night. The PA, along with Fatah, Hamas, and the Jihad leadership are in accord that an Israeli presence at the Rafah crossing would be intolerable, and Hamas and Jihad have promised to relentlessly attack if the crossing is moved to a new location inside Israel -- Kerem Shalom -- or if it is closed for six months as Israel has demanded. Although Al-Zahar is convinced the "Egyptian administration will not allow Gaza to become a big prison" he warned that "if the PA accepts this and if we succeed in the elections we are going to make an end to this gate." "The Israeli presence means Israeli occupation. The worst threat to regional security and stability is the occupation," explained Palestinian National Security Advisor Jibril Rajoub. The Egyptians and Palestinians are still engaged in intensive talks with the Israelis and members of the Quartet to have the border under Egyptian and Palestinian authority, welcoming the presence of an agreed upon third party, such as the EU. Does the PA have the resources and expertise to maintain a secure border crossing on the Palestinian side? Rajoub claims Palestinian security forces have enough resources to cover their national security interests, but will need assistance to augment this and meet regional security concerns, while both Egyptians and Palestinians assert that the border has been fortified. Joint concerns over weapons smuggling and terrorist infiltration have resulted in regional and bilateral cooperation between Egyptians and Palestinians, and Palestinian intelligence officials assert there is no base for Al-Qaeda in Palestine. The foreseeable policy for the Rafah border is murky. The border was opened for two days as a temporary solution for Egyptians and Palestinians caught on the wrong side. Joint humanitarian and economic issues surrounding Egyptian and Palestinian Rafah will be settled through a joint ministerial committee, including Prime Minister Qurei and Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, who has called on other Arab nations to assist in preparing Palestinians for statehood. In addition to rehabilitating Palestinian security, the Egyptian delegation is working to facilitate administrative, economic and judicial reforms. Rajoub asserts, "Without Arab assistance, from the Egyptians in particular, we cannot do anything." A summit between presidents Mahmoud Abbas and Hosni Mubarak is scheduled this week in Cairo. In addition to security concerns and the status of the shared Rafah border, the agenda will include Egyptian aid, future economic and social ties, and reactivating agreements between Egypt and the PA. Another inter- factional meeting will be held at the end of the year in Cairo, with the chief of Egyptian Intelligence, Omar Suleiman, promising Palestinian factions to set a new programme for 2006. Meanwhile, the capacity of the Egyptian delegation along with the Egyptian Embassy in Gaza will likely expand, further increasing Egypt's role in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Egyptian participation brings hope of reviving the peace process, although Israel looks set for a bout of internal political turmoil over the coming year. In Gaza, a continuous barrage of Israeli Air Force strikes raining down upon Gaza City has abruptly muted any joy that filled the air after the Israeli withdrawal. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit stated on Saturday that "Using military aircraft in attacking civilian areas in the strip is a violation of international law and a direct threat to the lives of defenceless civilians." Abul-Gheit said that Egyptians have begun talks with all parties to forestall an escalation of violence. Many of the strikes are blanks that lack a full payload of explosives, sending the message through thundering repercussions, shattering doors and windows, along with a sky full of fluttering green papers dropped by Israeli forces Saturday afternoon, that Israel, even post- withdrawal, will extract a high price from the Palestinian population as and when it wishes.
