According to the Times of Israel, Dermer, who also serves as Netanyahu’s aide, revealed that Israel will not withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor in any ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian factions, and that it will be prepared to leave the door open for a full withdrawal in a second negotiating phase in the future.
He added: “In the first stage, Israel will remain on this line until we reach a practical solution on the ground that can convince the Israeli government that what happened on October 7 will not happen again, and that the factions’ movement will not rearm itself.”
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the case for a permanent Israeli presence on the Gaza-Egypt border, arguing that it was a necessary step to ensure that the factions’ movement would not be able to rearm and rebuild its control after its war with Israel ended.
However, Dermer noted that this requirement may not be fixed and that there may be alternative arrangements in the context of a long-term ceasefire.
“The first phase of this deal is to negotiate the terms of a permanent ceasefire, and after those negotiations are complete, while you are in the first phase ceasefire, in order to get to the second phase and the permanent ceasefire, then you can discuss the long-term security arrangements on the Philadelphi Corridor,” Dermer said.
Dermer was repeatedly asked about reports that Netanyahu sent Mossad chief David Barnea to Doha to inform Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani that the Israeli military was prepared to withdraw completely from the Philadelphi Corridor in the second phase of the deal, but he called the reports “misleading” and did not provide further details.
Dermer continued the same approach Netanyahu took earlier this week, directly criticizing Egypt for its alleged failure to achieve peace in the Middle East, but unlike Netanyahu, Dermer attacked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi by name, saying he “does not question the intentions of the Egyptians” but “questions the results.”
Nine years ago, Egypt demolished thousands of homes on its side of the border to create a buffer zone with Gaza. Since then, Egypt has said smuggling is no longer a problem, and has rejected Netanyahu’s accusations that the militant group is smuggling weapons across the shared border.
The accusations against Egypt have angered its regional allies, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Egypt has been strongly opposed to Israel establishing any form of control over its border route, and on Tuesday protested that defining the Philadelphi Corridor as a military zone would violate the 1978 peace agreement between the two countries.
Source: The Times of Israel
#Philadelphia #Axis. #Netanyahus #Assistant #Attacks #Sisi #Doubts #Results
2024-09-06 10:34:21
Israel Refuses to Withdraw from Philadelphi Corridor in Ceasefire Agreement
In a recent statement, Ron Dermer, Israeli Ambassador to the United States and aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, revealed that Israel will not withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor in any ceasefire agreement with Palestinian factions. This development comes amidst ongoing negotiations for a long-term truce between Israel and Gaza-based Palestinian groups.
Israel’s Conditions for a Ceasefire
Dermer emphasized that Israel’s primary concern is to prevent the rearming of Palestinian factions, particularly Hamas, and to ensure that the Philadelphi Corridor, which runs along the Gaza-Egypt border, does not become a conduit for weapons smuggling. To achieve this, Israel is demanding a practical solution on the ground that can guarantee the Israeli government that the events of October 7, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israeli forces, will not be repeated.
In the first stage of the agreement, Israel will maintain its presence on the Philadelphi Corridor until a satisfactory solution is found. Dermer, however, hinted that this requirement may not be set in stone, and alternative arrangements could be explored in the context of a long-term ceasefire.
Netanyahu’s Vision for a Permanent Israeli Presence
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long advocated for a permanent Israeli presence on the Gaza-Egypt border, citing the need to prevent the rearming of Palestinian factions. According to Netanyahu, Israel’s withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor would create a power vacuum that Hamas and other groups would be quick to fill.
Reports of a Potential Withdrawal
Contrary to Dermer’s statements, reports have emerged suggesting that Netanyahu sent Mossad chief David Barnea to Doha to inform Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani that Israel was prepared to withdraw completely from the Philadelphi Corridor in the second phase of the deal. Dermer dismissed these reports as “misleading,” declining to provide further details.
Criticism of Egypt’s Role in the Peace Process
Dermer echoed Netanyahu’s criticism of Egypt’s failure to achieve peace in the Middle East, with a notable difference. While Netanyahu’s criticism was more general, Dermer specifically targeted Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, questioning the results of Egypt’s efforts rather than their intentions.
Historical Context: Egypt’s Buffer Zone
It is worth noting that nine years ago, Egypt demolished thousands of homes on its side of the border to create a buffer zone with Gaza, aiming to stem the flow of smuggled goods and weapons. Since then, Egypt has maintained that smuggling is no longer a significant issue.
Implications of Israel’s Stance
Israel’s refusal to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor in the initial ceasefire agreement raises concerns about the viability of a long-term truce. The Palestinian factions may view Israel’s conditions as overly restrictive, potentially leading to further tensions and conflict. Moreover, the criticism of Egypt’s role in the peace process could strain relations between the two countries.
As the negotiations continue, it remains to be seen whether Israel will be willing to compromise on its demands and what alternative arrangements may be explored to address the concerns of all parties involved.
Key Takeaways:
Israel will not withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor in the initial ceasefire agreement.
Israel’s primary concern is to prevent the rearming of Palestinian factions.
Alternative arrangements may be explored in the context of a long-term ceasefire.
Netanyahu has long advocated for a permanent Israeli presence on the Gaza-Egypt border.
Reports of a potential Israeli withdrawal in the second phase of the deal have been dismissed as “misleading.”
Israel has criticized Egypt’s role in the peace process, with Dermer targeting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi specifically.
Optimized keywords: Philadelphi Corridor, Israel, ceasefire agreement, Palestinian factions, Gaza-Egypt border, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ron Dermer, Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
