By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
Jun 01, 2004
Israeli Finance Minister Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu reportedly remains intent on finding a way to remain in the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as it moves ahead with plans to uproot Jews from their homes.
Sharon, however, insists that he will not compromise on his “disengagement” plan, and continues working to align with those forces that are eager to see Israel completely and
finally leave first the Gaza Strip, and then the Jews' biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria.
Enter Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak.
In a telephone conversation with Mubarak Monday, Sharon agreed to send Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom to Egypt on Thursday to discuss the establishment of a joint committee that would plan Egypt's involvement in the retreat plan.
Reports indicate that Egypt's role will include its policing of the Sinai-Gaza border under which the Palestinian Arabs have been smuggling weapons - including Egyptian-made arms - for use in their terror war against Israel.
Bibi’s struggle
Expressing his desire Monday to save the ruling Likud Party from implosion over Sharon's retreat plan, Netanyahu stated his belief that a compromise could be found if Sharon was willing to ease off on his determination to implement his plan in one go.
But, as Netanyahu struggled to find his footing in a current threatening to sweep him out of the political decision-making circle, his traditional foes on the political left were working to resurrect the scandals they tried unsuccessfully to bury him under during and immediately following his tenure as prime minister in the 1990s.
On Tuesday, Israel's Supreme Court ruled that the reasons why a former state attorney wanted to have Netanyahu and his wife indicted for fraud and breach of trust should be made public.
The court rejected the Netanyahus' position that revealing this information could be damaging to them.
And a poll published in the Israeli daily Ma'ariv Tuesday indicated that an overwhelming majority of Likud voters favor Sharon over Netanyahu.
Courting Egypt
But Sharon was apparently so determined to have his way that he was willing to side with his nation’s foes in order to push forward his pullout policies.
Egyptian Hosni Mubarak may still refuse to visit Israel or even return his ambassador to the Jewish state, official Egyptian newspapers may still daily demonize Israel, and Hitler's Mein Kampf may still be a best seller on the streets of Cairo, but Sharon now appears ready to embrace Egypt's support for his plan.
In a telephone conversation with Mubarak Monday, Sharon agreed to send Shalom to Egypt on Thursday to discuss the establishment of a joint committee that would plan Egypt's involvement in an Israeli retreat from Gaza.
Reports indicated that Egypt's role would include its policing of the Sinai-Gaza border, under which the Palestinian Arabs have been smuggling weapons - including Egyptian-made arms - for use in its terror war against Israel.
Egyptian forces, which under the Israeli-Egypt peace agreement are forbidden deployment near the Gaza Strip, would be permitted to enter that area to help "police the peace."
The European Union is fully supportive of an Egyptian role. So, too, is the United States.
Cairo versus Arafat?
Meanwhile, in what some saw as dis-information floated to persuade skeptics that Egypt is a sincere partner in the effort to secure Israeli-"Palestinian" peace, a Cairo newspaper said Monday Egypt was cooperating with Israel and the United States to pressure Arafat into accepting reforms that would see the aging terror chief relegated to the sidelines so that other "Palestinian" leaders can take over the decision making.
According to Al-Quds al-Arabi , Mubarak has threatened to leave Arafat's fate in the hands of Sharon unless he agrees to accept a ceremonial position.
Observers believe it unlikely that Mubarak would anger his own people by condoning Arafat's "removal."