Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli sources revealed that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken informed officials during his recent visit to the region that Egypt and the UAE are ready to participate in a security force in Gaza after the war.
The United States is looking to recruit Arab allies for the initiative, which is part of a vision for managing Gaza after the war. According to the sources, who told the Hebrew newspaper Zaman, during his visits to Qatar, Egypt, Israel and Jordan two weeks ago, Blinken was informed of this. The United States has made progress on the issue, receiving support from Cairo and Abu Dhabi to create a force that will work alongside local Palestinian officers, according to an Arab official, an American official, and a third source familiar with the matter.
However, the sources said that Egypt and the UAE have set conditions for their participation, including the condition that the initiative be linked to opening a path to a future Palestinian state, something that Prime Minister Benja
min Netanyahu has pledged to prevent. .
The third source said that Egypt is also demanding a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, a condition that may conflict with Netanyahu’s commitment to maintain overall security control over the Strip after the war.
At the same time, the United Arab Emirates demanded the United States’ participation in the security forces in Gaza after the war, an Arab source said, but the third source indicated that Blinken made it clear that the United States would not participate with its own forces.
However, Blinken assured his colleagues that the United States will help establish and train the security force and ensure that it receives a temporary mandate so that it is eventually replaced by a full Palestinian body, the third source said, adding that the goal is for the Palestinian Authority to eventually take control of Gaza, and unify it. The Gaza Strip and the West Bank are under one entity as an essential step towards a two-state solution.
Source: Maan News Agen
cy