Brian Akitt

In 1981, Following the Camp David Accords of 1978 and the signing of the 1979 Treat of Peace between Egypt and Israel, in which the Treaty Parties failed to obtain the UN Security Council approval, the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) was established. The MFO was and remains to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace and employ best efforts to prevent any violation of its terms, including freedom of navigation through the Strait of Tiran. It has become a classic “maintaining the peace” operation. During its years of operation, the MFO has faithfully served Egypt and Israel in managing their security relationship according to the terms of the Treaty of Peace and other agreed arrangements. 

In 2002, I was posted to the MFO and appointed Chief of Liaison for the MFO while also serving as the Commander of the Canadian Contingent. Through the Liaison System, the MFO fosters and facilitates dialogue between the Parties and successfully serves as an intermediary between them.  Constant dialogue takes place among the Force Commander and the Chiefs of the Egyptian and Israeli Liaison Systems.  At the working level, military officers from the Force Commander's staff meet daily with their counterparts in the Egyptian Liaison Agency with International Organizations (LAWIO) and the Israel Defense Force International Cooperation Division (IDFICD).  During my tenure, the countries with troops serving in the MFO included: Australia, Canada, Colombia, Fiji, France, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Uruguay.

In “plain speak”, it was truly 24hr a day, 7 days a week and 365 day a year job. As Liaison, we were the MFO point of contact and attended each and every incident or action that was reported by either of the two parties or our own force and observers. From tunnels being constructed under the international border between the Gaza Strip and the North Sinai and then when found, being blown up, to incursions into the restricted areas by either of the signatories to the treaty, to illicit drug trafficking in the restricted zones, we provided staff to investigate, record and report on the occurrence to both nations. Resolution, frequently required meetings in Cairo or Tel Aviv. Living in North Camp, North Sinai on an old Israeli air base constructed following the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, responsible for an extremely large area of coverage of the Sinai, travel was never ending. Proudly, we can claim that no instances of armed conflict in the MFO’s area of responsibility (AOR) occurred during our tenure. However, that does not mean, that there were not incidents, some significant, that demanded immediate attention and frequently incredible patience, in order to complete the action to achieve peaceful resolution.

My experience, while serving outside Canada, had been that the Canadian military is seen as a well trained, highly respected force, professional in our approach and delivery. The team that accompanied me into the Sinai was that and more. Also, considering that this was a predominately Moslem country, it was reassuring to see that our Canadian values were not compromised and the assignments went to qualified individuals, regardless of gender. The Contingent Sergeant Major (CSM) was MWO Pauline Fortin and she was outstanding in the conduct of her responsibilities. 

On any given day, I or my staff could be called upon to address a potential violation resulting from tanks and armoured bulldozers leveling dwellings in the restricted area of the Gaza Strip or strikes by helicopter gunships which were also not an uncommon occurrence. There were also border incursions by the Bedouins. Then, that same day, we would be required to negotiate and resolve damages resulting from MFO operations. That could be, as simple as a chicken struck and killed (reimbursed at 10 Egyptian pounds) or a goat (reimbursed at 150 Egyptian pounds) by an MFO vehicle. The poverty of the locals was readily evident and therefore the importance of these few possessions that individuals held became of greater significance. Rarely a day went by without a meeting for some issue or reason. Fairness and respect were the drivers of the meetings and gradually, issues could be resolved.

In Mar 2003, the Iraq War (sometimes referred to as the 2nd Gulf War) commenced. The overflights and the proximity of MFO AOR to the Beersheba nuclear facilities (a potential Iraqi target) created more tension and increased the security requirements. Our team persevered and we completed a very successful year “in maintaining the peace”.