1. Before the armistice-line crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip can be opened to more than just humanitarian aid, there is the little matter of the long-term cease-fire argreement (including a reasonable prisoner exchange) between Israel and Hamas that needs to be worked out first.
2. At Egyptian insistence, before the Rafah crossing can be opened, there is the little matter of the reconciliation of Fatah and Hamas which needs to worked out first.
3. Before the creation of a Palestinian state, there is the little matter of the peace agreement between Israel and the PA which at a bare minimum must determine where the border is, terminate the hostilities, bestow mutual recognition, and ensure security which needs to be signed and ratified first.
Nothing is going to change in the Middle East without a bilateral agreement as step 1; everybody is sick and tired of unilateral concessions and "goodwill gestures" that don`t do anything except to increase the level of violence |
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