The Foreign Service Journal, May 2006

occupied Gaza because of the vio- lence that occasionally spilled over into the MFO operational area in Egypt. More recently, the several terrorist bombings in the Sinai have presented new force protection challenges. The clear American national interest in maintaining the Egypt- Israel Peace Treaty is reflected in strong bipartisan domestic support, including on Capitol Hill, for the MFO mission. This reflects a wel- come consensus that peacekeeping operations are a useful tool to achieve important national interests. After all, without U.S. leadership and commitment, there would have been no MFO. And without a peacekeeping operation, the 1979 Peace Treaty would never have gone into effect. In 2006, American interests in the Middle East are greater and the situation more complex than when Washington took decisive action to create the MFO 25 years ago. It is logical for the U.S. to maintain its support for the cornerstone of peace in the area, the 1979 Egypt-Israel Treaty, and to continue its military, political and financial commitments to the MFO. The Bush administra- tion’s decision in 2003 to do so, its current increased budgetary and extraordinary financial contribution, and the helicopter upgrade to Black Hawks all in the face of the critical demands of the Iraq War, are an acknowledgement that the MFO continues to merit its relatively small costs as a useful instrument of American policy. The MFO was created in excep- tional circumstances for a special purpose, but its effectiveness and the confidence it builds between the two parties make it a peacekeeping model worth considering for an eventual comprehensive Israeli- Palestinian agreement. The under- lying reason for the MFO’s success is that Israel and Egypt, each for own national reasons, are committed to the treaty and each has both the intention and the capability to com- ply with its terms. Using that yard- stick, the MFO model would be rel- evant whenever and wherever two parties have reached a similar com- mitment. n 56 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / M A Y 2 0 0 6 The force’s Civilian Observer Unit possesses a wealth of military and political expertise. SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE AMERICA S I NCE 1 9 7 1 2006 represents our 36 th year helping to maintain America’s fleet of vehicles throughout the world. All of us at D & M consider it an honor to have worked with all of you through these years. We are aware of the importance of your official and private vehicles, forklifts, generators, tools and equipment. We look forward to continuing this service in a professional manner. We are here to help, just ask! Gary Vlahov www.dmauto.com (516) 822-6662; FAX: (516) 822-5020; E-mail: info@dmauto.com