GAZA CITY — Egypt is increasingly concerned by the fighting among Palestinian militia groups and has sought to deploy troops in the Gaza Strip to
prevent civil war in the Palestinian Authority.
Palestinian sources said Cairo has raised the prospect of Egyptian
troops in key areas of the Gaza Strip. They said the troops would bolster
Palestinian security along the border as well as around key facilities.
"The Egyptians proposed the offer and it was rejected immediately," a
Palestinian source said. "Then, the Egyptians repeated the offer and it was
seen as something serious."
On Thursday, one Palestinian was killed and 12 others were injured in
a shootout between Fatah and Hamas militias in Gaza City, Middle East Newsline reported. Each militia
accused the other of initiating the clash.
The sources said the offer was relayed twice over the last week to the
PA and insurgency groups. They said the Egyptian proposal to end the militia
war was discussed during talks in Cairo and Gaza City.
Egypt has been alarmed by the daily casualties in fighting between Hamas
and Fatah, the sources said. They said Cairo has been concerned that the war
would spread to the neighboring Sinai Peninsula, the source of weapons
smuggling to the PA.
"You can't ignore Egypt, especially when you're in the Gaza Strip," the
source said. "It's no surprise that Hamas and Fatah have been examining the
proposal."
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has sought Egyptian help to end the militia
war, the sources said. On Thursday, Abbas said he would give Hamas 10 days
to accept the Palestinian program for negotiations with Israel. He said that
unless Hamas agreed, the program would be submitted for Palestinian
referendum within the subsequent 40 days.
Israel has agreed to an Egyptian proposal to transfer weapons and
ammunition to Abbas's Presidential Guard. Abbas plans to expand the force
from 1,500 to 2,500 officers.
"We are talking about a limited number of light weapons," Amos Gilad,
director of the Israeli Defense Ministry's political-military division,
said.
