Egypt peace deal to be amended
Ministers OK deployment of Egyptian troops on Gaza border, paving way for Philadelphi pullout; 20 Gaza synagogues to be razed. Minister Olmert slams rabbis for objecting to synagogue demolition, says their actions politically motivated
After 26 years, government approves amendments to peace deal with Egypt.
Cabinet ministers voted Sunday in favor of an agreement that would see Egypt deploy 750 armed border guard troops on the Gaza Strip border, paving the way for an Israeli pullout from the Philadelphi route, on the Gaza-Egypt border.
The agreement will be brought before the Knesset for approval Wednesday.
During Sunday's government session, ministers also decided that 20 out of the 22 Gaza Strip synagogues will be dismantled, while only two will be transferred to Israel.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, who raised the proposal, said he would instruct the IDF to immediately start with the synagogue relocation ceremony.
Officials in the security establishment said the fate of the synagogues must be decided at once, because at the moment, soldiers are protecting the buildings and are susceptible to renewed shooting or mortar attacks by Palestinians.
Chief rabbis object
But Chief Rabbis Shlomo Amar and Yona Metzgar objected to the decision, even suggesting an international force to protect the holy sites.
Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert attacked the chief rabbis, claiming the call to protect the buildings was motivated by "political considerations."
But Olmert was criticized by Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz , saying, "We must honor the rabbi's request, even if the government must change it's position. Their opinions are based on fears for the Jewish world."
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told the cabinet he was worried the ex-synagogues would be subject to desecration if left standing.
To resolve the issue, the ministers appointed a committee, including the chief rabbis, to examine different possibilities that could prevent the destruction of the buildings.
Day after
Defense Minister Mofaz also addressed the issue of "the day after" the Gaza pullout.
"The West Bank has become the main theater for the war against terror," he said. "We have made clear to the Palestinians at all levels hat they must carry through with their commitments to fight terror."
Mofaz said Israel would not transfer authority for Gaza until the final Israeli soldier had left the area, and estimated that would happen sometime around September 15.
But he warned the date is not "holy" and could change according to circumstances at the time.
