Tell me I have an Edward Bear mentality.
Say I'm a Pollyanna.
But there's a way to strengthen Israel-Egypt relations while removing terrorists from the Sinai.
Every year, countries have joint military exercises with their "friends" - even if the "friends" were former enemies.
Egypt claims to want the terrorists out of Sinai.
Certainly Israel wants the terrorists out of Sinai.
The Egypt-Israel truce calls for the Sinai to be a demilitarized zone.
But a truly demilitarized zone means freedom of movement for terrorists.
Israel apparently agreed to allowed a limited Egyptian army presence in Sinai.
Some Israeli politicians are claiming Egypt is sending in more troops and weapons that the agreement allows.
But if Egypt is doing the job of clearing terrorists from Sinai . . .
Israel worries that the military buildup in Sinai to oust terrorists if a facade to allow Egypt to station troops in the desert preparatory to an attack on Israel. It would not be the first time this happened.
But let's say, just for a moment, that Israel and Egypt participate in joint war games against the terrorists in the Sinai.
Better, let's embed IDF solders with Egyptian troops and let's move some Israeli forces into Sinai and embed Egyptian troops with the Israelis.
Given a common enemy, a common goal, and being in less than Five Star Hotel conditions, soldiers tend to bond.
When they go home, the bond remains; perhaps at a lesser level, but an understanding is achieved.
It would be a win-win for both countries.
Israel would know what Egypt is up to and would be able to roam the Sinai looking for terrorists before they get within rocket range of Israel. Egypt would know its activities in the Sinai would not provoke an attack by the IDF.
The Sinai is a big place; it's hard to police, and Egypt still has enough civil unrest that it cannot deploy all its forces into the area. At the same time, Israel is nervous that Egypt is pushing the agreement by sending in armored units and more soldiers than initially agreed.
Let the top commander be Egyptian, but his Executive OfficeR will be from the IDF.
All prisoners are handed over to the Egyptians . . . they know how to deal with their fellow Moslems and the world will turn a blind eye to Egyptian interrogation "methods."
