Egypt's intelligence chief spoke to Israeli and Palestinian leaders in an effort to accelerate the plan for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza The talks came as Israeli tanks were withdrawing from Rafah in southern Gaza after a 10-day rampage of destruction and terror in which dozens of Palestinians were killed and many homes were destroyed, reports Khaled Ameyrah. Suleiman met for several hours with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz, during which he demanded that Israel clarify "the new version" of the so-called disengagement plan. The old version of the plan was rejected by an overwhelming majority of Sharon's own Likud Party in a referendum on 2 May. According to Israeli sources, Suleiman informed Israeli leaders of Egypt's willingness to play a "more active role" along the Rafah-Sinai borders -- the so- called Philadelphia corridor -- in the event of the Israeli occupation army withdrawing. Suleiman also informed Israeli leaders that if Israel effected an "honest and complete withdrawal from Gaza", Egypt would make serious efforts to maintain security on the border and prevent the smuggling of weapons from Sinai to the Gaza Strip. However, he explained that Egyptian commitment would only be honoured if all killings and incursions into Gaza were stopped. According to Palestinian sources, Suleiman told Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei in Ramallah that Sharon was willing to coordinate the proposed Gaza withdrawal with the Palestinian Authority (PA) on condition that Egypt played a major role in securing the Rafah-Sinai border. Expressing a modicum of satisfaction with Suleiman's talks in Israel, the PA leadership re-asserted its commitment and readiness to "assume its responsibilities" in the Gaza Strip after Israeli withdrawal, going so far as to present a comprehensive and workable plan for the Gaza Strip to be implemented after the Israeli pullout. The plan, which will be presented to Egypt, is composed of several elements, one of which entails the unification of Palestinian security agencies and a willingness to prevent security violations. Suleiman reportedly proposed the formation of a committee comprising the US, Israel, Egypt and the PA to oversee the implementation of the disengagement plan and to deal with any problems that may arise. Earlier this week, Sharon was quoted as saying that Israel would consult with Egypt and Jordan regarding the new version of the plan. Haaretz, the Israeli daily, reported on Tuesday that Sharon had informed his ministers that the withdrawal would take place in four stages, but only after an approval in principle of the overall plan. Sharon has reportedly changed his mind regarding the transfer of the vacated settlements to the UN or to Palestinians. The Israeli press quoted him and other Israeli officials as saying that the settlements would be demolished as no Israeli could bear to see the Palestinian flag flying over Netzarim. The Israeli army is reportedly opposed to a staged withdrawal from Gaza on the grounds that such an arrangement would invite attacks from Palestinian resistance fighters. There are also reports that some of Sharon's ministers who oppose the withdrawal plan, including Finance Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, are planning to oust Sharon.
