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A demonstration against the closure of the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, 25 July 2007. The crossing in the divided town of Rafah has been closed since Hamas violently took over the Gaza Strip on June 15. (Photo: Ahmad Khateib/Flash90)
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| By Israel Insider staff July 26, 2007 |
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Israel and the Palestinian Authority renewed civil coordination in all West Bank cities Wednesday. In further efforts to support PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Jerusalem authorized the transfer of 1,000 rifles from Jordan to PA forces loyal to Abbas. Israel has also decided to expand the Kerem Shalom terminal to become the main crossing into Gaza for pedestrians and goods.
In a short ceremony Wednesday, Israel and Palestinian Authority officials finished preparations that will allow the two to renew collaboration in civil administration in the West Bank, which had been cut off with Hamas' victory in the 2006 Palestinian elections.
Abbas has appointed former Tanzim leader Hussein al-Sheikh to run the Civil Affairs Administration, which will make him responsible for coordination with Israel in the matters of Gaza and the West Bank, such as entry permits, water, electricity and crossings.
"In order to build confidence with the other side, you must deal with routine things," al-Sheikh said.
"The political issue between Israel and the PA is one thing. But for successful negotiations you require trust. In order to build trust with the other side, you need to deal with day-to-day matters," he said.
Al-Sheikh coordinates directly with the Israeli head of Civil Administration in the West Bank, Brigadier General Yoav Mordechai. The two recently organized a gathering for the 250 Fatah prisoners lately released from Israeli prisons as a gesture to Abbas.
In another Israeli effort to bolster Abbas' government, Israel approved the transfer of 1,000 rifles from Jordan to Palestinian security forces loyal to Abbas, it was confirmed Wednesday by both Palestinian and Israeli sources.
The M16s were delivered to the PA three weeks ago in the hope that they will help prevent Hamas from seizing power in the West Bank as it did in Gaza last month. A similar transfer was made earlier this year to Fatah forces in Gaza, but most of the weapons were seized by Hamas after the group gained control of the area.
Palestinian forces have reported that Hamas is attempting to establish an Executive Force base in the West Bank. A weapons stash linked to these reports was found by PA security forces in the home of a Hamas operative in Tul Karm.
In terms of Hamas, Al-Sheikh referred to the group as "gangs of criminals." While discussing the problem of border crossings in Gaza, Al-Sheikh maintained that he refused to coordinate with the rival group.
He said, however, that Palestinian and Israeli officials are now working together to solve the border crossing issue. Both Karni and Rafah crossings have been closed since Hamas' Gaza takeover last month.
"We are now working on a solution to the problem of the Rafah crossing, but there is no official Palestinian side in Rafah. We agree on the opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing, as Israel is recommending, in order to alleviate the suffering of those being held up in their travels," he said.
According to a report in the Jerusalem Post Thursday, the Defense Ministry has decided to expand Kerem Shalom crossing so it can act as the main terminal into Gaza for both people and goods. Sufa terminal is currently being used as the main supply crossing, because Kerem Shalom is at present closed due to daily mortar attacks.
According to the officials, Israel has no intention of reopening Rafah crossing while Hamas remains in control, and harshly criticized Israel's previous agreement with the EU to allow European monitoring of the crossing.
"We never had control over the crossing even when the EU monitors were there. We never had the ability to stop anyone and our control over the crossing, despite previous agreements, was extremely limited," said a top defense official, who added that hundreds of Palestinians have gone to Iran and Lebanon to take part in terrorist training since the Rafah crossing was opened in November of 2005.
Egypt is also cooperating with Israel, said the officials, by closing its side of the Rafah crossing and not allowing Hamas members to leave Gaza.
The current main supply crossing, Sufa, has been an object of controversy as the IDF, the Defense Ministry and the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) fight for control over the terminal.
It is currently run by the IDF and the coordinator of government activities in Gaza and the West Bank, but the IAA is trying to gain control over the crossing.
IAA workers lost jobs, and the IAA lost money after the closing of Karni Crossing, where they had charged a toll to every truck that unloaded there.
According to a top defense official Wednesday, "Karni is not going to reopen for a long time. Therefore, there is a need to find a more permanent alternative to be able to continue the flow of food and supplies into the Gaza Strip." |
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