JERUSALEM - Israel and the Palestinians have made some progress on new security arrangements for the Gaza-Egypt border, Palestinian officials said on Saturday, ahead of a planned summit between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas this week.A border deal, brokered by international mediator James Wolfensohn, would allow Gazans relatively free movement
However, the two sides appeared to remain deadlocked on other issues, including the release of Palestinian prisoners and an Israeli troop withdrawal from additional West Bank towns. The Palestinians seek the release of all prisoners who have served more than 20 years in Israeli prisons, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Saturday. However, Israel says it will not release those involved in attacks that wounded or killed Israelis, meaning most of those with long sentences would be ineligible.
| Which is why they're locked up in the first place. |
A key issue is the Rafah terminal on the Gaza-Egypt border. Israel closed the terminal as part of its pullout from Gaza last month. The reopening depends on a new security deal that would address Israeli security concerns but also grant the Palestinians freedom of movement. Israel, which used to operate Rafah, fears that militants and weapons will reach Gaza more easily once Israeli inspectors are no longer present.
Under a compromise proposal, Palestinians travelers and goods leaving Gaza would go through Rafah, with European Union inspectors supervising the traffic. Incoming goods would be rerouted through Kerem Shalom, an Israeli-run inspection point on the meeting point of Gaza, Egypt and Israel.
| Yeah, let the EU do it. They'll fix everything. |