[News] The Salah al-Din Corridor: The new wailing wall

[Anti-Imperialist News]

 The Salah al-Din Corridor: The new wailing wall

Saturday 7-September-2024 -
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GAZA, (PIC)

The Salah al-Din Corridor, also known as the “Philadelphi Route,” has
recently become a focal point in the news due to its connection with the
ongoing negotiations between the resistance and Israel. Netanyahu insists
on keeping Israeli forces in the corridor as a condition for completing the
deal, while Hamas demands the withdrawal of these forces.

The importance of this corridor lies in its strategic location along the
border between Egypt and Palestine, south of Rafah. This prompted the
Israeli military to reoccupy it several months ago, citing the claim to
prevent weapons from reaching the resistance from Egypt.


*The story of the Salah al-Din Corridor*The Salah al-Din Corridor refers to
the border strip between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, extending from the
Mediterranean Sea to the Kerem Shalom crossing. It is about 14 kilometers
long and a few hundred meters wide, situated within the “D” buffer zone
established under the Camp David Accords signed between Egypt and Israel in
1979.

In September 2005, Israel and Egypt signed the “Philadelphi Agreement,”
which Israel considers a security annex to the peace treaty, governed by
its general principles and provisions. This followed Israel’s withdrawal of
its forces from Gaza under the “Disengagement Plan.”

The agreement allowed for the deployment of around 750 Egyptian soldiers
along the border with Gaza to combat terrorism, prevent infiltration and
smuggling, and detect tunnels. It also permitted a limited Israeli military
presence consisting of four infantry battalions, field fortifications, and
UN observers.

After the events of 2007, the border remained under the protection of
Palestinian National Security, while Israel imposed a tight blockade on
Gaza.

Israel reoccupied the Salah al-Din Corridor last May as part of its ongoing
genocidal campaign against Gaza. The occupation forces have since
strengthened their presence and paved the corridor.

Earlier this month, Netanyahu declared that Israel would not withdraw its
forces from the Salah al-Din Corridor, claiming it to be a lifeline for
Hamas. “We are staying there,” he stated.


*The corridor and the negotiations*Ihab Jabarin, an expert on Israeli
affairs, explained that Netanyahu’s insistence on the corridor as a “nail
in the coffin” stems from two reasons: first, a strategy of delay until the
next U.S. presidential elections, and second, the belief by Netanyahu and
his right-wing coalition that the current war is existential. He added that
the repeated focus on the Philadelphi Route reveals internal tensions
between Netanyahu and Israeli security and military institutions.

Political and strategic researcher Saeed Ziad said that Netanyahu’s
insistence on staying in Gaza is part of his desire to remain in power for
as long as possible, as well as to occupy Gaza and annex the West Bank.

Writer Yasser Al-Zaatreh stated that Netanyahu is addicted to lying about
the Philadelphi Route to derail the deal. He pointed out that the Biden
administration is complicit, fearing backlash from the Zionist lobby, even
though they are aware that Netanyahu is stalling until Trump wins the
election. By refusing to allow the Democratic administration to finalize
the deal, Netanyahu hopes to win both Jewish and Muslim votes.

Hamas leader Dr. Khalil al-Hayya stated that any agreement must include a
complete cessation of aggression, full withdrawal from Gaza, including the
Salah al-Din Corridor and the Rafah crossing, the safe return of displaced
persons to their homes without inspections, humanitarian aid,
reconstruction, and a prisoner exchange deal.

Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri told Al Jazeera Mubasher that the U.S. is
complicit in the aggression and aligns with Israel on all negotiation
positions. He added that the U.S. now supports the Israeli stance that the
Philadelphi Route is the main obstacle to reaching an agreement.

Hamas official Osama Hamdan stated on Al Jazeera that the Philadelphi Route
is part of the previously agreed withdrawal from Gaza, and if Washington
does not pressure Netanyahu to withdraw, it is merely trying to save him
from the fallout over prisoner deaths.


*Israeli positions*Netanyahu’s stance on the corridor has not convinced
many Israelis. Former Israeli Major General Yitzhak Brick described it as
“the biggest deception since the establishment of the state.”

Military analyst Alon Ben-David from Channel 13 stated, “Not a single open
tunnel has been found on Egyptian soil, nor a single usable tunnel under
the Philadelphi Route,” highlighting that most of the resistance’s weapons
are manufactured locally.

According to Haaretz, some sources indicated that the Mossad chief had told
mediators that Israel was willing to withdraw from the Philadelphi Route
before Netanyahu publicly opposed it. Netanyahu’s press conference was
intended to sabotage the deal for political reasons.

Israel Hayom reported that during a meeting with the families of the
captives, the Mossad chief said, “I prefer withdrawing from Philadelphi and
Netzarim to secure the hostages,” adding that “Philadelphi and Netzarim are
not operationally necessary.”

Israeli journalist Yossi Verter criticized Netanyahu for his habitual lying
about the corridor, stating, “Netanyahu reverted to his usual self—serial
lying, ignoring inconvenient facts, and pledging to stay in the Philadelphi
Corridor at the cost of the deal. As a liar who believes his lies, he
didn’t blink when he repeatedly lied about opposing the Gaza withdrawal in
2005, even though he supported it until a week before it was implemented.”

Netanyahu and the far-right Zionists have exaggerated their insistence on
staying in the Salah al-Din Corridor to the extent that Haaretz published a
cartoon likening the corridor to the Wailing Wall for Netanyahu and the
far-right.

Last week, the Israeli Cabinet decided against withdrawing from the
Philadelphi Route. In response, the families of the captives held by the
resistance commented that the decision to keep the army in the corridor
proves that Netanyahu never misses an opportunity to thwart a prisoner
exchange deal.

Press sources reported that former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon
said, “The government decided to sacrifice the 107 prisoners for staying.
Deploying our forces along the Philadelphi Route in a strip just a few
dozen meters wide won’t prevent tunnel digging and will expose the soldiers
to danger.”
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