By Ryan Jones
Nov 24, 2005
Israeli vice-Premier Shimon Peres Wednesday handed an official letter of invitation to Europe to take up a monitoring role on the Gaza-Sinai border it surrendered to the Palestinian Authority two months earlier.
The move effectively ends Israel's ability to safeguard the security of its citizens in the area, and instead entrusts that task to the traditionally antagonistic European Union and a ?Palestinian? entity still engaged in an unrelenting campaign of mass murder against the Jews.
?This is a document that ends the withdrawal from Gaza and opens a new chapter for the peace process's continuation,? Peres told reporters after meeting with EU Special Representative to the Middle East Marc Otte. ?It opens up Gaza.?
That it opens up the Strip is clear. But to what? Some, including many of Israel's top security officials and experts, fear that instead of economic prosperity, an influx of advanced weaponry destined for terrorists' hands will come pouring in.
Unperturbed, Peres also lauded the EU's participation in such a crucial security matter for the Jewish state, calling it ?important for the relationship between Europe and the Middle East in general, and Israel in particular.?
?The newly formed European role and responsibility have been accepted by all parties concerned - Israel, the Palestinians, the Quartet, and the world,? he asserted.
But with Israelis preparing to elect a new leader, that statement may not hold true for long.
Binyamin Netanyahu, a front runner in both the Likud leadership race and the general elections to follow, issued a blistering attack earlier this month over delegating Israel's security to foreigners.
?Today we expect the Europeans to supervise Egypt, to supervise the Palestinians, and they will supposedly stop the infiltration of weapons and terrorists against us,? an incredulous Netanyahu stated after the cabinet first approved the Rafah Crossing plan.
?There is no alternative for the State of Israel than the Israel Defense Forces guaranteeing Israel's security,? he insisted.
Peres, however, appears unconcerned about the possibility of a different government taking over soon, one that may not agree with surrendering such a porous and volatile border to those who have proven either unwilling or incapable of protecting Jewish life.
?Governments come and go. What is important is not the government, but the policy,? the aging Oslo Accords architect declared.