ABSTRACT
The Multinational Force & Observers (MFO) has been a successful operation mostly because it fit into the political and security needs of the key parties concerned. Egypt accepted the MFO not only as the price for recovering the eastern Sinai but as a way to involve the United States as a “full partner” in the peace. Nevertheless, it is very sensitive, as is the MFO leadership, that MFO be perceived not as a US presence but as an “international” one. Politically, Israel’s confidence in the integrity of the MFO is based on the expectation that it will take the steps necessary to ensure, in the sense of “enforce,” free navigation if it is ever threatened. Operationally, too, there could be a difference as to what the force would do in certain circumstances. Within the zone the MFO is naturally in control of its own movements and installations, commanding “freedom of movement” and brooking no restrictions on its operations.
