Israel is about to accept the posting of 3,500 Egyptian troops, 45 helicopters, along the 240 km of Egyptian-Israeli border. Sharon government is ready to bow to steep Egyptian terms to save Gaza pull-out.

DEBKAfile Intelligence

June 23, 2005, 12:37 PM (GMT+02:00)

DEBKAfile investigation reveals:

An Israeli government official claimed Thursday, June 23, that the military protocol still in negotiation covered no more than 750 Egyptian border police to secure the 14-km Philadelphi strip with a single police helicopter. He denied the draft would nullify the 1979 peace treaty demilitarizing Sinai or entail military risk. DEBKAfile clarifies: Cairo wants the entire border down to Eilat sectioned off into 14km sectors, each manned by 750 troops. As the August withdrawal date nears, Egypt keeps on raising new demands