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Israel, Palestinians near deal on Gaza crossing

Posted on: Wednesday, 3 August 2005, 12:15 CDT

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.

Source: REUTERS

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