Abbas officially opens Gaza-Egypt border

The Gaza-Egypt border opened with a festive ribbon-cutting today – a milestone for the Palestinians who for the first time took control of a border crossing without Israeli veto powers and gained some freedom of movement.

The opening was seen as a step toward Palestinian independence and gave a boost to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, as he faces a fierce challenge by the Islamic militant Hamas in January 25 parliament elections.

“This is a great day. It is a day of happiness … because it means an enormous step forward toward the freedom of the Palestinian people,” Marc Otte, the EU representative in the Middle East, told 1,200 guests attending the ceremony at Rafah.

Abbas inaugurated the terminal by cutting a ribbon, then toured the refurbished facility.

The Palestinian leader also announced a major security clampdown in the West Bank and Gaza, saying the Palestinians must end the lawlessness in their territories to spur economic recovery and revive peacemaking.

Abbas reiterated that the parliament election would be held on time, dispelling rumours he would seek a delay because of disarray in his Fatah party, which held primaries in some districts today.

The Rafah terminal on the Gaza-Egypt had been closed by Israel as its troops withdrew from the Gaza Strip in September.

After two months of international mediation and a final push by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Israel agreed that the Palestinians would run their side of the border, with the help of European monitors.

The crossing will open to Palestinian travellers tomorrow morning, initially for four hours a day until the European monitors get settled. After the test period, opening hours will be expanded.

“From this moment, we feel we are free,” said Fathia Najar, 55, one of a group of Palestinian travellers waiting near Rafah to cross the next day.

“Before this, we lived in a jail.”

Before the Israeli pullout, travel through Rafah was often difficult. The terminal was repeatedly closed on security grounds, and at times travellers waited for days to get through.

Heavy security ringed the terminal during today’s ceremony, with police setting up roadblocks on access roads. Police officers also lined the main north-south road from Gaza City to Rafah.

The border deal backs Abbas’ message that Palestinians can only gain independence through negotiations with Israel. Hamas says such talks are pointless and that it drove Israel out of Gaza by force.

Despite the Abbas-Hamas rivalry, Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar attended the opening ceremony. “Our presence here does not mean we support this agreement,” the Hamas leader said.

In preparation for the opening, the terminal was painted, workers replaced ceiling tiles and installed new lighting. Rows of blue and orange chairs filled the arrivals and departure halls, along with batteries of computers, x-ray machines, metal detectors and security cameras.

The key dispute between Israel and the Palestinians had been over whether Israel should get real-time surveillance videos from Rafah and be allowed to veto the entry or departure of some passengers. In the end, Israel dropped both demands.

Otte, the EU representative, said the operation of the terminal would be a test for renewed Israeli-Palestinian co-operation, after nearly five years of bloody fighting.

Initially, 20 EU monitors will supervise Rafah operations, said Julio Delaguardia, spokesman for the contingent.

He said the first group of monitors comes from Italy, Denmark, Romania and Luxembourg. In coming weeks, the group will grow to 70, with additional monitors from France, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and Finland.

He said he hoped all monitors would be in place within a month, to handle large crowds for an upcoming pilgrimage season to Saudi Arabia.