CAIRO Ñ Egypt, with tacit U.S. support, has recruited at least five Arab countries to participate in a proposed peace-keeping force in the Gaza Strip.   

The sources said the proposed Arab force was meant to overcome Hamas objections to the return of Palestinian Authority security services to the Gaza Strip. Hamas, which conquered the Gaza Strip in 2007, has insisted on a power-sharing arrangement in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Under the Egyptian plan, Cairo would establish a committee to assume some government functions in the Gaza Strip. This would include reconstruction, reform and preparations for presidential and legislature elections in January 2010. The plan would be facilitated by the Arab force, meant to help in the formation of Palestinian security services in the Gaza Strip. The new Palestinian security would be divided between Fatah and Hamas security officers. The sources said the United States has been briefed on the Egyptian plan and quietly endorsed the proposal. They said Hamas allies, including Qatar and Syria, were asked to press the Palestinian Islamic movement to support Cairo's plan. Egypt has set a July 7 deadline for Hamas agreement to the security plan in the Gaza Strip. In early June, Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Masha'al met Egyptian intelligence director Maj. Gen. Omar Suleiman to discuss the proposal.

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