http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/644942.html
Israeli and Palestinian officials have clinched a long-awaited deal on the manning of the Gaza-Egypt border crossing, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday, after marathon Israeli-Palestinian talks through the night and well into Tuesday morning.
Rice praised the deal as a "big step forward" in strained Israeli-Palestinian relations. She personally presided over the final rounds of talks.
"This agreement is intended to give Palestinian people the freedom to move, to trade, to live ordinary lives," Rice told a news conference.
Under the deal, the border would tentatively open November 25, and construction of a Gaza seaport would begin.
Palestinians would be able to travel between the West Bank and Gaza in bus convoys through Israel.
The agreement gives the Palestinians control over a border for the first time and will provide a much-needed boost to the shattered Gaza economy. It also marks an important breakthrough for the sides, who so far have failed to capitalize on the momentum created by the withdrawal.
The deal also strengthens Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas ahead of January 25 parliament elections and help him fend off a strong challenge by the Islamic militant group Hamas.
The European group will be headed by an Italian general, said Palestinian Information Minister Nabil Shaath.
***Israeli President Katsav presently in Rome (article)
Full story at URL above
Israeli and Palestinian officials have clinched a long-awaited deal on the manning of the Gaza-Egypt border crossing, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday, after marathon Israeli-Palestinian talks through the night and well into Tuesday morning.
Rice praised the deal as a "big step forward" in strained Israeli-Palestinian relations. She personally presided over the final rounds of talks.
"This agreement is intended to give Palestinian people the freedom to move, to trade, to live ordinary lives," Rice told a news conference.
Under the deal, the border would tentatively open November 25, and construction of a Gaza seaport would begin.
Palestinians would be able to travel between the West Bank and Gaza in bus convoys through Israel.
The agreement gives the Palestinians control over a border for the first time and will provide a much-needed boost to the shattered Gaza economy. It also marks an important breakthrough for the sides, who so far have failed to capitalize on the momentum created by the withdrawal.
The deal also strengthens Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas ahead of January 25 parliament elections and help him fend off a strong challenge by the Islamic militant group Hamas.
The European group will be headed by an Italian general, said Palestinian Information Minister Nabil Shaath.
***Israeli President Katsav presently in Rome (article)
Full story at URL above
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