U.S. pushes Israel to accept proposed Egypt border deal

The U.S. administration is urging Israel to engage Egypt in immediate dialogue in order to find a joint solution to the problem of the breached Gaza-Egypt border. The U.S. wants Israel to show some flexibility on Egypt's demand to add 750 soldiers to its border force, as well as to agree to Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's proposal to take over responsibility for the Israel-Gaza Strip border.

Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch visited Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian Authority last week and held talks on the situation in the Gaza Strip. In Israel he met with Yoram Turbowicz and Shalom Turjeman, advisers to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, as well as defense and foreign ministry officials. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to visit the region herself shortly.

Welch briefed Israeli officials on his meetings with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman and Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit. Welch said that the breaching of the wall by Hamas has led to a significant change in Egypt's attitude toward the situation in the Gaza Strip in general and the border in particular. He told his Israeli counterparts that the Egyptians are now more ready than ever to cooperate in order to change the situation at the border as well as combat smuggling there. Welch said the Egyptians' recent anti-Hamas statements show that they now feel that the problem has become theirs, too.

Welch said that Israel should talk to Egypt about Cairo's desire to double its border force, which he said would serve both Israeli and Egyptian interests.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/953151.html