Omar Sulaiman says Egypt opposes any deployment of international forces in the Gaza Strip

Editorial Note: The following news reports may be summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology.

Tuesday July 10, 2007 16:05 by John Smith - IMEMC & agencies

Omar Suleiman, Egypt’s intelligence chief, has told Israeli political figures that the country will oppose any deployment of an international force in the Gaza Strip.

Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman

Speaking to MKs of the left-wing Meretz party in Cairo on Sunday, Suleiman stated that the idea of such a forces was “neither technically nor politically easy,” adding that such a deployment would be “impractical.”

Suleiman, along with other Egyptian officials, have reportedly called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to refrain from requesting the presence of a peacekeeping force in the coastal region. In addition to the fact that the Hamas movement has repeatedly stated its vehement opposition to such a force, Egyptian officials fear that the presence of a foreign army would be viewed as an admission that the country has no control over its own borders.

For their part, the Israeli delegation was optimistic when questioned about the results that a peacekeeping force could deliver. Speaking to the Israeli daily Haaretz, MK Zahava Gal-On noted that the “proposal is for the good of the Palestinians and for the good of Israel. It will bring an end to Qassam fire against Sderot, and will stabilize the situation in the Gaza Strip.”

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