Opening of border crossing to signal new era for Gaza

THE Palestinians took control of a border for the first time with the festive opening yesterday of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt - a milestone on their rocky path to independence and a rare moment of joy for fenced-in Gazans.

The inauguration of the crossing, which will not open to traffic until today - was attended by scores of local and international dignitaries. It was hailed as the beginning of a new era for Palestinians, but especially the people of Gaza, badly demoralised after five years of bloody fighting with Israel.

"From this moment, we feel that we are free," said Fathia Najar, 55, one of a group of Palestinian travellers waiting to cross the border when the terminal begins operations. "Before this, we lived in a jail."