Israel, Palestinians progress on Gaza border control

Israeli and Palestinian officials have made progress toward an agreement on the control of Gaza border crossings, local newspaper Ha'aretz reported on Monday.

At a meeting between Israeli and Palestinian officials in Jerusalem on Sunday, the Palestinian side agreed to Israel's demand that a third party - probably the European Union - supervise the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt and that this supervisory role include defined enforcement powers to be exercised, should the Palestinians fail to fulfill their obligation of the border control.

The two sides also agreed to exchange drafts of an accord on customs issues in the next few days.

Shortly after the Israeli pullout from Gaza last month, thousands of exultant Palestinians swarmed across the uncontrolled Gaza border into Egypt to visit relatives or stock on cheap supplies.

Israel, out of fear of weapon smuggling into Gaza, urged the Palestinians and Egypt to tighten security control of the border.

Rafah is one of the four main crossings on Gaza border and the only exit for Gazans to go abroad.

Source: Xinhua