Al-Sisi proposes: Extend Gaza Strip into Sinai and establish Palestinian state there

Al-Sisi proposes: Extend Gaza Strip into Sinai and establish Palestinian

state there

IDF Radio 8 September 2014

http://glz.co.il/1064-49725-he/Galatz.aspx

IMRA translation

Army Radio has learned that the Egyptian president, General al-Sisi,

proposed to Mahmoud Abbas to extend the Gaza Strip into the Sinai area and

establish a Palestinian state. Also in the proposal: partial autonomy in the

West Bank

Aliel Chachar

We reveal on Army Radio this morning (Monday) that the Egyptian President,

General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, proposed to Mahmoud Abbas a far-reaching plan.

According to this plan, Egypt will provide a 1,600 square kilometer area

near the Gaza Strip, an area that will make the Strip five times its size

today, there shall be established a Palestinian state under the total

control of the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian refugees would return

to this country and it would be demilitarized.

In addition to that “large state of Gaza” there would be autonomy in the

Palestinian cities in the territories, where the Palestinian Authority would

completely manage the day to day life. In return, Abbas would give up his

demand for a return to the ’67 borders, since he receives full territorial

compensation – and even more – in areas of Sinai, and this will make it

easier to find a solution to all the borders between Israel and the PA.

According to the same sources, al-Sisi tried to appeal to Mahmoud Abbas and

told him that at his age, 80, if he does not take this offer those who come

after will take it, but Abbas was not convinced and rejected the proposal.

From what we know, the Americans are also in the picture and gave the green

light to the plan, and Prime Minister Netanyahu was also advised of the

program. According to a preliminary examination, Netanyahu did not update

many around him about the program.

A similar program has been raised by Israeli academics in the past and by

former National Security Council head Giora Eiland. Eiland claimed at the

time that the area of Gaza is too small to support more than a million

residents and therefore it must be increased at the expense of the Sinai,

but when this program was raised a few years ago years Egypt rejected it

completely. Now the person proposing the plan is the president of Egypt

himself.

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