Israel to delay visit of Egyptian official over Shalit
State officials in Jerusalem confirm planned arrival of Egyptian intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, in days leading up to Independence festivities less than desirable, cite Israeli frustration with incessant arms smuggling into Gaza, lack of pledge from Palestinian factions hostilities will end. Israel may demand Shalit release as part of truce agreement
Disappointed by the lack of progress on the matter of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit and Cairo's disinclination to put an end to the smuggling of arms across its border into Hamas-controlled Gaza, Israel is now looking to delay the announced visit of Egyptian intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman.
Suleiman was scheduled to travel to Israel in the coming days to present an Egyptian-backed truce agreement agreed on by Hamas and other Palestinian factions.
But State officials in Jerusalem confirmed on Sunday evening that the triumvirate of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni are united in their lack of enthusiasm towards a visit by Suleiman prior to Independence.
The three have demanded that the Egyptian dignitary bring with him clear-cut assurances regarding the release of Shalit and plans to take action against the smuggling, as well as a pledge by Palestinian factions to end rocket attacks against Israel's south and the cessation of all terror attacks against troops and civilians in the Gaza –vicinity area.
Cabinet to discuss proposal
A senior State source said that though Israel was setting the bar high for Egypt, it believes Cairo simply is not doing enough to further the issues at hand and hopes the delay in Suleiman's visit will yield results.
A date has not yet been set for Suleiman's visit or the wording of the agreement he laid the groundwork for with the factions.
"The bare minimum for Egypt must be stopping the smuggling, this is within their ability," the official said, adding that one of the working premises was tying the release of Shalit with the truce proposal.
Jerusalem, he said, was waiting for Hamas and the other factions to issue an unambiguous statement regarding the cessation of terror attacks from Gaza.
High-ranking State officials confirmed Suleiman was being delayed and said that efforts to secure Shalit's release were being pursued on a separate track as well and would continue.
The officials further said that the cabinet may convene a special session to determine Israel's response to the proposal and agree on its terms for the truce.
Other sources said that should Suleiman's visit fall through, Israel would likely send Amos Gilad, head of the political-military bureau at the Defense Ministry, to Cairo as early as next week to finalize the agreement.
