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To Prevent Hamas's Resurgence, Israel Must Stay in Philadelphi Corridor
(Israel Hayom) Meir Ben Shabbat - Israel's grip on the Philadelphi Corridor stands out as one of its key strategic gains in the Gaza war. This control acts as a bulwark against Hamas's potential resurgence. Past reliance on international arrangements has proven ineffective. Could an Israeli-Egyptian mechanism, with U.S. involvement, effectively replace direct Israeli control? Historical precedent offers little room for optimism. In 2009, Israel signed an agreement establishing such a mechanism that failed to prevent even a single instance of smuggling. Detection and monitoring systems alone can't stop smuggling. An effective operational force is crucial. Without Israeli control, we would be dependent on the goodwill of the Egyptians. Their priorities and considerations may not align perfectly with Israeli security imperatives. Israeli control of the Philadelphi Corridor represents a vital course correction. The writer, a former Israeli national security advisor, is chairman of the Misgav Institute for National Security & Zionist Strategy in Jerusalem.