Israel approves Egypt-Gaza crossing

JERUSALEM - Top Israeli cabinet ministers have approved a border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, to allow Palestinians to come and go freely after the Israeli withdrawal from the strip.

It would be the first time since Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1967 that Palestinians would be allowed to enter and leave either territory without passing through Israeli controls.

But details, including the possible role of European Union monitors, still have to be finalized with the Palestinians. The Egyptian-proposed plan also has to be approved by the full Israeli cabinet, probably on Sunday, the officials said.

Palestinians have complained that they were not involved in discussions on opening the Rafah crossing and objected to an Israeli demand for cameras filming those who use it. They have not said they would reject the Egyptian proposal, though.

"The Israelis want not only to monitor the Rafah crossing point themselves through the live transmission of images from the new terminal, they also want to retain a veto over which Palestinians are permitted to use the crossing point," Palestinian Planning Minister Ghassan Khatib said.

He called Tuesday's decision "a misleading attempt by Israel to maintain its suffocation of Palestinians in Gaza indefinitely by drawing out the process of re-opening the Rafah crossing point and selling it as progress".

Under the plan accepted last week by Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz, the foot crossing would be under foreign oversight to assuage Israeli fears that arms and militants could easily cross into Gaza.

Since withdrawing from Gaza in September after 38 years of occupation, Israel has been under pressure from the United States to help open up Gaza's frontiers so Palestinians can trade and travel more easily.

The United States hopes a thriving economy in Gaza will help peacemaking under the "road map" it backs for Palestinian statehood.

- REUTERS