Egypt to mediate Gaza withdrawal

JERUSALEM - With Egypt as a go-between, Israel and the Palestinians have begun contacts on a Gaza withdrawal, officials said Tuesday.

At a meeting with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for the first time expressed readiness to coordinate a proposed pullback with the Palestinians, even if indirectly or at a low level, according to a senior official.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who met with Suleiman the same day, also indicated he was ready to deal, saying he would prepare a security blueprint for Gaza by June 15, the official said on condition of anonymity.

Palestinians fear Sharon is trading Gaza for a tighter Israeli grip on much of the West Bank. Sharon proposes to evacuate all 21 settlements in Gaza and four small ones in the West Bank.

The international community has urged Sharon to coordinate with the Palestinians. Israel is considering seeking World Bank help in any transactions involving the Israeli settlements that would remain after a withdrawal.

The focus on Sharon's withdrawal plan has pushed the U.S.-backed "road map" further into the background. The roadmap plan, which envisioned Palestinian statehood by 2005, never got off the ground, with both sides failing to carry out their obligations from the start.

Egypt is determined to help prevent chaos, for fear it will spread into its territory, according to an Israeli official who attended the meeting with Suleiman.

Egypt has proposed a four-way committee - made up of representatives from Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the United States and Egypt - oversee the Gaza pullback, officials said.

Arafat has promised to reduce the number of security branches in Gaza from nine to three, a Palestinian official said. Arafat has promised to streamline the security agencies in the past but always balked at the last minute.

The Palestinians would deploy 700 officers on the Gaza side of the border with Egypt to prevent weapons smuggling, Palestinian officials said. Egypt is also prepared to increase security at the border.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said the Palestinians are ready to take control of Gaza if Israel leaves.

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