Israel proposes dual Gaza crossing

Israel is proposing a dual crossing between Gaza and Egypt to allow for free exit from Gaza but control over goods entering the territory, Israeli defence officials said today.

A Palestinian official rejected the idea.

The issue of the Rafah crossing is seen as critical to the future of Gaza after the Israeli evacuation.

The crossing is Gaza’s only land link to the outside world without passing through Israel, which plans to maintain control over the territory’s Mediterranean seacoast and its airspace.

Under the plan, approved in a meeting chaired by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, the current Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt would become a one-way exit for people and goods with no Israeli supervision.

A new crossing would be opened near Kerem Shalom, an Israeli farming village at the point where the Egyptian, Israeli and Gaza borders come together for incoming people and goods.

Israel would maintain supervision over goods imported into Gaza, in accordance with the “customs envelope” agreed on in interim peace accords in the mid-90s.

Israel is concerned about terrorists and weapons entering Gaza after its evacuation, and also about being flooded with cheap goods through Gaza.

Palestinian Economics Minister Mazen Sonnoqrot rejected the Israeli proposal. He said the Palestinians want to maintain the Rafah crossing for both people and goods, with no Israeli supervision in either direction.

“Any Israeli control of goods and people into and out of Gaza will diminish Palestinian Authority sovereignty,” he said.

Sonnoqrot said the Palestinians have suggested international supervisors to protect Israeli interests over imports.

In negotiations that involved Palestinian officials and international mediator James Wolfensohn, Israel rejected the idea of international observers at Rafah to supervise entry of goods and people.

Wolfensohn’s office said today that the dual crossing idea is new and has not been brought up in negotiations so far.