How would it stop the rockets?

Submitted by Michael Sedley (Israel), Jan 30, 2008 at 01:37

There is a certain appeal to leaving Gaza to the Egyptians, however there a few questions that Pipes doesn't address:

1. Surely Egypt would do everything in its power to avoid this scenario, it sounds like Egypt would be the biggest looser in the whole situation, as they have to deal with a hostile indoctrinated population without an immediate geographic tie to Egypt's main population centers.

2. How would this stop the rockets? Does Egypt have the ability or incentive to send in large amounts of troops required to neutralize Hammas and Fatah brigades.

3. Wouldn't this jeopardize the peace treaty with Egypt? Israel is already unpopular in the Egyptian 'Street", surely dumping the Gaza on Egypt will add to this hostility. Add to that the fact that Egypt will be forced to bring more troops to the Sinai-Israel border, in violation of the Peace agreement.

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Daniel Pipes replies:

I will address these points in my next week's column.