Deal reached to open Gaza borders (Israel)

[jamaesi]

Israeli and Palestinian officials have reached an agreement to reopen Gaza's border crossings with Israel and Egypt, Condoleezza Rice has said. The US secretary of state said the Rafah crossing should open on 25 November, marking the first time the Palestinians will control a border.

Opening the border is seen as key for Gaza's economy and Palestinian exports, including short-lived foodstuffs.

Ms Rice had extended her Middle East visit to help nail down the agreement.

It will allow Palestinians to travel in bus convoys between Gaza and the West Bank starting in a month, and in lorry convoys a month after that.

Its other provisions include:

• Beginning construction of a sea port for Gaza, and further discussions about an airport
  
• Allowing the urgent export from Gaza of all the agricultural produce of the 2005 harvest
  
• The reduction of obstacles to movement in the West Bank, which Israel still controls.

The deal also includes video surveillance of the Rafah crossing to Egypt by a joint EU-Palestinian team.

Israel will have access to the video via the Europeans, but will not have veto power over individuals moving through Rafah, as it had wanted.

More here.



More steps towards peace. : )