Last update - 00:00 20/11/2006
Israel, Palestinians meet to discuss reopening Rafah crossing
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent
Israeli and Palestinian delegations together with members of the so-called Quartet - which includes the U.S., EU, Russia and UN - met Monday to discuss a new Israeli initiative to reopen the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
The Palestinian representatives demanded the crossing operate on a regular basis, seven days a week, according to Palestinian sources. The EU asked to open the crossing for three days a week.
While the Israeli delegation did not respond to the requests, it promised they would be considered. The Israeli and Palestinian delegations have yet to reach agreement on several key issues regarding the operation of the crossing.
Senior Israeli official Amos Gilad and advisor to Defense Minister Amir Peretz, Hagai Alon, will meet with American representatives Dick Jones and Keith Dayton, EU envoy to the Middle East Marc Otte and a UN observer force general. The Palestinians will be represented by Saeb Erekat and Nazmi Muhana.
The meet will set the framework for following discussions to be held at the foreign ministry whose goal is to enable the reopening of the crossing which was sealed after repeated clashes and alleged arms smuggling by Palestinian militants.
On Saturday, Minister for Strategic Threats Avigdor Lieberman called for Israel to retake control over the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi Route, on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
Speaking to Israel Radio, Lieberman said that Israel need not reoccupy the Strip, which it evacuated in the summer of last year, but must take control over the area from which "the fuel that drives terrorism arrives."
Lieberman said he believes the Palestinians are not interested in setting up their own state, but rather in destroying Israel. He said Israel must abandon past interim peace deals, known as the Oslo accords, and the road map.