Israel to reopen Gaza-Egypt border crossing

GAZA - Israel plans to reopen the border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, ending a closure it imposed following a deadly militant attack and allowing thousands of stranded Palestinians to go home, officials said.

They said Rafah terminal was expected to be up and running on Friday, a move that could boost a bid by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to coax a ceasefire from militants waging a 4-year-old revolt in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

"This is part of the easing of restrictions that the Israelis are trying to implement," Palestinian Civil Affairs Minister Jamil Tarifi to Reuters.

"The Palestinian side has started making preparations to allow entry of thousands of Palestinians who were stuck at the Egyptian side of the border for days," he said.

Israel closed Rafah terminal after militants tunnelled under one of its border army outposts and blew it up on Dec. 12, killing four soldiers. An Israeli security source confirmed the terminal would be reopened on Friday as a "goodwill gesture".

Abbas is in Gaza this week for talks with militants who have vowed to bloody Israeli troops and settlers before they pull out of Gaza under a plan by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to quit the occupied territory later this year.

A champion of non-violent struggle for statehood, Abbas has cited Israel's often crushing military retaliation as a reason that the militants should suspend their attacks.

- REUTERS