TEL AVIV - Egypt is preparing to deploy forces near a critical Gaza Strip road in an effort to fight arms smuggling and help the Palestinians establish order in Gaza after Israel’s expected withdrawal.
A Palestinian source involved in the preparations for Tuesday's summit in Sharm el-Sheikh told Ynetnews on Saturday Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abu al-Ghait is expected to meet his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom sometime during the week.
The two will discuss changing several clauses in the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt to allow the Egyptians to deploy forces along the “Philadelphi” route, south of Rafah area of the Gaza Strip.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas are scheduled meet Tuesday in Sharm el-Sheikh at the invitation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Jordanian King Abdullah is also expected to attend the summit.
The deployment of Egyptian forces is intended to fill the security vacuum created when there is no Israeli security presence in the Strip.
Tunnels are used to smuggle arms
The Israel Defense Forces frequently uncovers and destroys Palestinian tunnels constructed underneath the "Philadelphi" route. The tunnels are used to smuggle weapons, cigarettes, drugs, and people (primarily prostitutes) from Egypt into Gaza.
In December, during al-Ghait’s visit to Israel, it was agreed between Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman that Egypt would deploy 700 security personnel along the Philadelphi route, on the western side of the border, to prevent weapons smuggling from the Sinai to Palestinian areas.
It was also agreed in December that Palestinian officers would be trained in Egypt, and this past weekend Palestinian security officers arrived in Egypt for training ahead of Israel's expected withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan.
According to the plan, which still faces fierce opposition in Israel from settlers and right-wing politicians, Israel will evacuate all settlements in the Gaza Strip and hand over the area to the Palestinian Authority.
Egyptian delegation to assess Palestinian security
In addition, an Egyptian security delegation is expected to visit the Gaza Strip and West Bank on Sunday to assess progress made by the Palestinians in regard to security, the reorganization of PA security forces and the situation in the Strip. The delegation will also include members who will mainly deal with finalizing the talks between the PA and Palestinian militant groups - such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad - in the hope of achieving a cease-fire agreement with Israel.
Egypt is very optimistic in regard to contacts with the Palestinian organizations, the Palestinian source said. He also said that serious progress has been made regarding Palestinians on Israel's wanted list and targeted killings of Palestinian militants - two issues central to the demands of the Palestinian groups.
Sharon aide headed to Cairo ahead of summit
Meanwhile, Dov Weisglass, a senior aide to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, is expected to visit Cairo Sunday and meet with senior Egyptian officials to prepare the joint communique to be published at the end of the Sharm summit.
Egyptian Foreign Minister al-Ghait is expected to depart for Denmark on Sunday where he will meet his Syrian counterpart and other senior officials and brief them on Egypt's contacts with Palestinian groups and with Israel.
On Saturday al-Ghait met Jordanian Foreign Minister Hani al-Mulqi in Cairo.
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