JERUSALEM – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice brokered an agreement Tuesday between Israel and the Palestinians on movement across the borders of the Gaza Strip, a deal that could open the impoverished territory to the outside world, help revive its economy and provide a needed boost to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The agreement, which Rice called a “big step forward,” provides for reopening the Rafah crossing between Gaza Strip and Egypt, the first time Palestinians would control passage to and from their territory.
The accord also outlines arrangements for travel between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and construction of a seaport in Gaza, vital for the area’s economic recovery after Israel’s recent withdrawal from the territory after 38 years of occupation.
‘Freedom to move’
Since the pullout, Gaza has been largely isolated by repeated Israeli closings of crossings into Israel and severe restrictions on travel.
“This agreement is intended to give the Palestinian people freedom to move, to trade, to live ordinary lives,” Rice told a news conference after marathon talks through the night.
Rice postponed her planned departure to Asia and stepped in to mediate the negotiations in a final push to seal the deal.
Many details remain to be worked out before the arrangements are put into effect, but the agreement raised hopes for improved relations between Israel and the Palestinians after several bouts of violence since Israel completed its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in mid-September.
“The parties are establishing now patterns of cooperation … after a long time with the intifada and all that went on before,” Rice said, referring to more than five years of violence.
Successful implementation of the agreement could help Abbas, who has been pressed by his people to show tangible improvements in daily life in the aftermath of the Gaza withdrawal.
Abbas faces a stiff challenge from the militant group Hamas in parliamentary elections to be held in January.
The agreement sets Nov. 25 as a target date for reopening the Rafah crossing, Gaza’s main gateway to the outside world, under Palestinian control and with the presence of European Union monitors. The monitors are being stationed to meet Israeli concerns about the possible passage of arms and militants through the crossing, which Israel closed when it withdrew from the Gaza Strip.
The European mission will consist of about 60 police officers and customs officials, headed by an Italian military police general, EU officials said.
Export boost
Installation of new security scanning equipment is supposed to increase to 400 the number of export trucks moving daily through the main cargo crossing to Israel by the end of next year, according to the agreement. Since the Gaza withdrawal, only a few dozen trucks have been allowed into Israel each day.
Under the agreement, Palestinians will be able to travel in bus convoys between the Gaza Strip and West Bank by Dec. 15, and truck convoys will begin moving goods between the two territories by Jan. 15.
The agreement says that construction can begin on a seaport in Gaza, and that talks will continue on reopening the airport, which was damaged by the Israelis during the recent years of fighting.
Joint teams are to discuss details of carrying out the agreement with James Wolfensohn, the international Middle East envoy who mediated previous negotiations.
Rice said there are “challenges ahead in implementing this agreement,” and that she had asked for periodic progress reports to ensure deadlines were met.
Palestinian Planning Minister Ghassan Khatib, a member of the Palestinian negotiating team, said that if the agreement is implemented in good faith, “it will provide conditions to help jump-start Palestinian economic recovery.”
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said the success of the agreement required close security cooperation between the Israelis and Palestinians. “The whole agreement is based on a common strategic interest to keep out extremist jihadist elements,” Regev said.
Wolfensohn, who threatened Monday to walk away from the talks in frustration over the lack of progress, said Rice’s “clout” had made an agreement possible.
“This gives us a chance to move to the fundamental question of growth and hope,” he said. “Once you get through these mechanics, you can then deal with the real issue, which is how you can make life better for 1.3 million people in Gaza.”
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