Condoleeza Rice compelled the Israelis to give control of the Egypt-Gaza border to the Palestinians, and in the last few days there have been numerous self-congratulatory articles about the "freedom" the Palestinians have felt while crossing to and from Egypt without elaborate security checks. But Israel's main objection to giving up control of the crossing -- that jihad terrorists and war materiel would be able to cross unhindered -- has not been addressed. And the exclusion of the EU from the process takes away just one more check against that eventuality. From Middle East Newsline, with thanks to Gabrielle Goldwater:
TEL AVIV [MENL] -- The European Union has been denied enforcement authority at the Palestinian Authority terminal along the Egypt-Gaza border.An agreement for the operation of the Rafah border crossing has limited the role of EU personnel to monitoring. Under a Nov. 23 accord, released on Monday by the privately-owned Independent Media Review & Analysis, the EU would not have the authority to either detain suspicious people or confiscate baggage at Rafah....
The accord said an EU monitor could require a PA security officer to re-examine baggage or vehicles deemed suspicious.
But the EU monitor could not order PA officers to block the passage of either suspicious people or baggage. The accord said that an EU monitor unhappy with the performance of PA security officers could register a complaint with their commanders.
If Israel cannot get any serious assurance of safety as this border crossing.. close it down now! I have held higher respect for Condi, but this is really sad that she does not get it.. would they expect no inspections coming in the U.S.?? l hope some one has some backbone to stand up to the EU and PA!!
Lulu,
Saw an interview of Wolfensohn on Israeli Tv, where he complained about the questions, admit that the accord he and Rice dreamt up and that she forced through was not his security problem but Israel's.
Maybe it's worth looking at Cox&Forkum
Change of Possession
http://www.coxandforkum.com/archives/000714.html
In another interview with Netanyahu, who on criticizing Sharon's "acceptance" of the accord was asked what he would have done. He could not answer. He had no counter to the "offer Sahron could not refuse".
So he was asked if he would tell Rice in typical Israeli parlance to "go home". Again he could not give any positive reply.
Basically Israel is between a rock and a hard place with regard to the State Department.
Corrected to read: "Basically Israel is between a rock and a hard place with regard to GWB and his administration".
Last I saw, GWB was King, and Condi was his vassal, did something change when no one was looking?
This sad and shameful affair proves once again that there is no such thing as "peace diplomacy." The EU is not interested in peace as such, so it appears, nor is the State Dept, US adminstration, etc.
When third parties intervene in a conflict, they have their own interests which they want to promote which may or may not be conducive to peace. Of course, the very term "peace process" is an insult to everyone's intelligence. Wolfensohn is a revolting character in his own right. Many of these officials of international organizations get a very overinflated opinion of themselves. Terje Larsen is like that too.
As to Netanyahu, since he is not in office, he cannot be too frank. He may fear that Bush will intervene against him in Israel's upcoming elections, more than is normal. Recall that bush Senior intervened in the 1992 elections which brought Rabin, Peres and Beilin to power, although the national camp actually won a majority [but lost seats since some smaller nationalist parties could not get over the 1.5% minimum]. People in America and Europe should understand that their governments' interventions abroad may be harmful to them. The help that the the USA, EU, & Japan give to the "palestinian authority" is a case in point, but not the only one. The EU encouragement for the PA and arafat has only encouraged jihadists to attack Europe, not to leave Europe alone.
The Israeli response to losing security authority at Rafa should be obvious:
Annouce that unless Israel has security authority restored at Rafa, no Palestinian workers or visitors would be allowed into any Israeli-controlled territories. Although Israel was forced to allow unrestricted convoys from Gaza to the West Bank, Israel could announce a policy of providing all Palestinian Convoys from Gaza with Israeli military escorts. The IDF policy would be to allow non-stop transport from Gaza to PA-controlled locations in the West Bank. The escorts would be under orders to shoot to kill any passenger who departed from the pre-determined route for any reason whatsoever.
Of course, only a true, religious-nationalist leader would have the guts to announce such a policy. Bibi won't (he fears America too much), and Sharon hasn't removed his lips from Condi's behind yet.
Related Post:
Palestinians: Give Them an Inch of Gaza, and They'll Let Terrorists Back in to Kill You
http://ginacobb.typepad.com/gina_cobb/2005/12/palestinians_gi.html