Preparing to move in

Cairo is playing a key mediating role to restart viable Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, writes Nevine Khalil

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On Tuesday, Egypt will host the first summit between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon intended to launch a new phase in peacemaking in the region. The summit, organised after a week of intense diplomatic and security talks between top Egyptian, Israeli and Palestinian officials, will be held in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.

A statement issued by Sharon's office yesterday noted that the summit was taking place "following the progress that has been made in the negotiations on security with the Palestinians".

Hours before the announcement, Intelligence chief Omar Suleiman had held unscheduled talks with Sharon in Jerusalem. Suleiman arrived in Israel, fresh from talks with the leaders of the Palestinian faction Islamic Jihad, and was scheduled to meet with Hamas representatives upon his return from Jerusalem yesterday.

The summit is the culmination of Egypt's attempts to create a positive environment for relaunching Palestinian-Israeli peace talks. Cairo's efforts are focused on several fronts, including a successful Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip this summer; uniting the Palestinian front; and assisting the Palestinian Authority train and modernise its security apparatus.

Recent security talks between Egypt and Israel resulted in an unprecedented agreement which will allow the presence of Egyptian troops in the demilitarised zone in Sinai, along the Egyptian- Israeli border. These will replace police forces which, according to the peace treaty signed by the two countries in 1979, are charged with securing the Egyptian border with Israel and the Palestinian territories. The security upgrade is significant since it goes beyond the specifications stated in the peace agreement, and comes as a precursor to an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip expected this summer.

The agreement came during discussions last week in Cairo headed by Suleiman and Amos Gilad, senior adviser to Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz. The new security arrangements will take effect this month, as soon as the Egyptian and Israeli foreign ministries sign modifications to the peace treaty which prohibits Egyptian military forces to be stationed in that zone of Sinai. The two sides decided that upgrading border security would ensure a safer border and prevent arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip.

In last week's security meeting, Egypt also pressed for an end to Israeli operations against the Palestinians and urged Tel Aviv to work towards peace with the Palestinians. Gilad said on Saturday that Israel was ready to work with the Palestinians. "There will be a new attitude of flexibility, with real intention to give a chance to the new Palestinian government," Gilad told Israel Radio.

Suleiman had previously come to an agreement with Sharon that a well-guarded train would run between the Gaza Strip and West Bank to link the two Palestinian-controlled areas.

A delegation of Egyptian security personnel is scheduled to arrive in the Palestinian territories Sunday to discuss deploying 750 Egyptian troops along the Gaza border. According to Mohamed Bassiouni, Egypt's former ambassador to Tel Aviv and current chairman of the Security Committee in the Shura Council, the delegation's mission is also meant to further deliberate on a cease- fire by Palestinian factions.

Essentially, Cairo is working towards a unified Palestinian front, united behind a clear strategy which the Palestinian Authority (PA) will be in charge of applying. This aims to empower Abbas during negotiations with the Israeli side. In fact, a conference for Palestinian factions, including the leaders of Palestinian factions who are based outside the Palestinian territories, is scheduled this month in Cairo. The idea is to bring all factions up to speed on the negotiations between the PA and the factions inside the Palestinian territories, such as Hamas and Jihad.

Egypt's focus is to move forward from a Palestinian-Palestinian plane of talks to Palestinian- Israeli peace negotiations. Abbas, who met President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday, briefed Egyptian officials on the steps taken by the PA since he came to power last month. These include progress in the internal Palestinian dialogue, streamlining security forces, deployment of Palestinian forces in Gaza, and recent contacts between the Palestinians, Israelis and Americans in preparation for a summit between Abbas and Sharon on 8 February.

With Mubarak, Abbas also outlined what help was needed from Egypt to support the Palestinian position in negotiating peace. Abu Mazen emphasised the priority of releasing Palestinian prisoners and a halt to Israel's targeted assassinations of Palestinian cadres. Abbas' Arab and European tour came ahead of the arrival of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the region where she will hold talks with the Palestinian and Israeli leaderships. It will be Rice's first trip abroad as secretary of state.

Mubarak updated Abu Mazen about the security talks with the Israelis last week, as well as Cairo's efforts with the Palestinian factions. Mubarak told journalists on Saturday that Abu Mazen "asked Egypt to continue its backing of the Palestinian position; and I assured him that Egypt is always ready to support and assist the Palestinian cause." In a telephone conversation with Sharon this week, Mubarak had urged "providing the necessary atmosphere for relaunching the peace process".

According to Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath, the Palestinians asked Egypt to put pressure on Israel to accept a truce and make other concessions. "All of these measures will help cement the cease-fire," Shaath said.

In another form of assistance to the PA, around 40 Palestinian police officers arrive in Cairo today to attend a training programme. This is the first in a number of such programmes in preparation for the Israeli withdrawal, and part of Egypt's effort to help the PA restructure and rebuild its institutions. Cairo has declared its readiness to train 30,000 Palestinian police officers to take charge of security in Gaza.