The European Union plans to establish a security presence in the Gaza Strip. Egyptian officials said EU security forces would help impose control and prevent smuggling between the Gaza Strip and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. They said EU inspectors would also man the Palestinian Authority airport in the southern Gaza Strip as well as the sea port near Gaza City. On Sept. 29, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy discussed the EU presence with Egyptian leaders. Later, Douste-Blazy and his Egyptian counterpart, Ahmed Abu Al Gheit, said he expected Israel to approve the EU deployment. "We talked today with our French counterpart about the idea of getting help for security through a European presence on the ground," Abu Al Gheit said. | These guys are going to be shields for the Paleos. Only question is whether they're willing or unwilling -- if the French are involved, they're willing shields. And they'll make it difficult for the Israelis to thump Hamas, without ever managing to stop Hamas themselves. |
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