Egypt Deploys Agents for Gaza Withdrawal
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
CAIRO, Egypt – Egypt has deployed dozens of undercover police and intelligence agents in the Gaza Strip to pave the way for Israel’s withdrawal from the area and to help the Palestinian Authority curb the radical Hamas group, according to senior security sources.
The Egyptian intelligence chief, General Omar Suleiman, is due to arrive in Jerusalem today for talks with the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, to coordinate the pullout of troops expected to begin in August.
Both men are increasingly alarmed by the prospect of Hamas, the Islamist group responsible for most suicide bombings against Israel, gaining the upper hand in Gaza after the withdrawal. “If Hamas takes over it will be the end of the peace process,” one source close to Egypt’s president, Hosni Mubarak, said. Cairo is particularly worried that success by Hamas in Gaza could stir up unrest among Egypt’s own Islamic radicals.
Security sources said Egypt worked behind the scenes earlier this month to delay Palestinian parliamentary elections, scheduled for next month, after Hamas made a strong showing in municipal elections. Cairo has also exerted pressure on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to stop funding Hamas and redirect the money to the Palestinian Authority.
Security sources said Egypt has deployed about 40 police and intelligence officials in the Gaza Strip and West Bank to try to rebuild the strength of the Palestinian Authority and ensure that Israel’s withdrawal does not take place “under fire” from Hamas.
British security experts are also working in the Gaza Strip, where they have set up a modern operations room to coordinate the work of Palestinian security forces.
Egypt has taken a prominent role in assisting Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, seeing it as an opportunity to revive peace talks after four years of bloodletting between Israelis and Palestinians.
But Cairo is having to perform the awkward balancing act of convincing Hamas to give up violence in favor of legitimate politics, while ensuring that it does not make major political gains.
