Israel, Palestinians near deal on Gaza crossing

By Cynthia Johnston

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel and the Palestinians are near
agreement on a foot crossing between Gaza and Egypt after
Israel quits the occupied strip, sources close to the talks
said on Wednesday.

A deal on the crossing would advance details of what
happens after Israel leaves the Gaza Strip, just two weeks
before the pullout starts.

Allowing a link to Egypt would help Israel say it bears no
responsibility for Gaza after the withdrawal, and Palestinians
say the pullout will be incomplete if Israel keeps soldiers at
the Egypt border, Gaza’s only land link to anywhere but Israel.

Israel had earlier said it was ready for troops to leave
the land between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, but had wanted to
ensure there was no security threat.

The current proposal is for there to be no Israeli troops
at the crossing, but European observers would monitor passports
and give information to Israel, one of the sources said.

“We are very close to an understanding or to a compromise
by which pedestrian traffic will continue to go through the
Egyptian-Palestinian terminal with a European third party
there,” the source said, asking not to be named.

There was no agreement yet on cargo, which Israel sees as a
greater security threat than foot traffic because militants may
try to smuggle in heavy weapons on trucks and in containers.

A senior Israeli official said Israel was inclined to
accept the pedestrian crossing with international monitoring,
though details were being fine-tuned. A deal could be reached
this week or next.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Palestinians
wanted a deal that included third party monitors, but had not
heard from Israel on the idea.

Palestinians accuse Israel of poor faith in coordinating
the withdrawal — which Prime Minister Ariel Sharon calls a
“disengagement” after years of conflict — by not providing
details of its plans.

Israel says Palestinians must do more to ensure there is no
fire by militants during the pullout, which Washington touts as
a potential springboard to renewed peacemaking.

One source said Israel was under U.S. pressure to allow the
crossing, which will be at the site of the Israeli-controlled
Rafah terminal.

He said it was also in Israel’s interest to avoid a
situation where troops left the border and Egypt and the
Palestinians simply opened a crossing by themselves.

“All we want to ensure is if we leave Gaza, the necessary
steps will be taken to prevent using these access routes and
avenues for smuggling of weapons and for terrorist purposes,”
said the Israeli official, who asked not to be named.