Jerusalem Post: Assem: Egypt will not police Gaza
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 6/1/2005

Egyptian ambassador to Israel Mohammed Assem Ibrahim said that Egypt will not play a role in preventing armed attacks in Gaza Strip after the withdrawal of the Israeli troops.

In an interview with the Israeli newspaper "Jerusalem Post," Assem said Israel should not expect Egypt to prevent any terrorist attacks that may emanate from the Gaza Strip after Israel's withdrawal: "Don't expect Egypt to be your policeman in Gaza," adding that " Egypt will not play this role. This is basically an Israeli problem and an Israeli question [which] you have to solve yourselves."

Yet, at the same time, Assem confirmed that Israel could expect better control of smuggling across the border where Egypt is allowed to station more troops there.

Assem added "Due to the peace treaty we don't have enough troops on the ground to take responsibility for [the smugglers]," he said. If we have extra troops we can have extra responsibility."

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