Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., January 30, 2009 Shvat 5, 5769 | | Israel Time: 04:43 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 17:36 29/01/2009
Mitchell: Opening Gaza borders would help choke off Hamas smuggling
By Reuters
Tags: Obama, Gaza, Hamas 

U.S. envoy George Mitchell said on Thursday that opening the Gaza Strip to commercial goods would help to choke off the smuggling that Israel fears could replenish Hamas's weapons stocks.

But he said the Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas must help to supervise the crossings, a demand that has been a major sticking point in Egyptian-brokered negotiations with the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers for a long-term ceasefire.

"To be successful in preventing the illicit traffic of arms into Gaza, there must be a mechanism to allow the flow of legal goods, and that should be with the participation of the Palestinian Authority," Mitchell said after meeting Abbas.
Advertisement

Abbas's Western-backed Palestinian Authority holds sway only in the West Bank after Hamas wrested control of the Gaza Strip from his Fatah movement in fighting in 2007.

Senior Hamas officials, meanwhile, are indicating a willingness to negotiate a deal for a long-term truce with Israel as long as the borders of Gaza are opened to the rest of the world.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told Mitchell that Israel would respond
to every Hamas violation of the cease-fire, be they rocket attacks, strikes along the border fence or smuggling through tunnels.


Related articles:
  • Netanyahu: Neutralizing Iran would reduce danger of Hamas, Hezbollah
  • Settlers not thrilled with Obama's Mideast envoy
  • Intel sources: Gazan informants intercepted by Hamas during war
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    From the bunker
    Hezbollah chief says Mossad behind Mughniyah assassination.
    Davos drama
    Turkey PM storms off stage over Peres remarks on Gaza at economic summit.
      1.   Underminding credibility. 17:54  |  Colin 29/01/09
      2.   Say What? 18:13  |  Hans 29/01/09
      3.   Having the Palestinian Authority guard the crossings 18:15  |  Andyboy 29/01/09
      4.   How? I don`t get it. 18:19  |  B 29/01/09
      5.   this makes no sense 18:22  |  alex 29/01/09
      6.   Hundreds of tunnels = Egyptian involvement 18:26  |  Gilad 29/01/09
      7.   Jews used to be good at logic... 18:37  |  David Cohen 29/01/09
      8.   David Cohen who`d be denounced by any stewardess on any kidnapped 18:52  |  Absolute Sweden 29/01/09
      9.   The "martyrs" would have a good green light... 18:54  |  Romy 29/01/09
      10.   Opening Gaza Borders 18:54  |  Max 29/01/09
      11.   David, I would not say that it is pure logic 19:13  |  Mikael 29/01/09
      12.   If There Is Full Inspection At The Crossings, What`s The Problem? 20:12  |  chet 29/01/09
      13.   opening borders 20:25  |  jtl 29/01/09
      14.   WOW! IS OBAMA`S POLICY TO IGNORE INTEL, LOGIC & COMMON SENSE? 20:39  |  dp 29/01/09
      15.   Gaza borders 21:55  |  John 29/01/09
      16.   Opening Gaza borders 21:59  |  Billclock 29/01/09
      17.   If There Is Full Inspection At The Crossings, What`s The Problem? 00:33  |  Mark Lincoln 30/01/09
      18.   What about mechanism to prevent tunnels arms smuggling? 01:12  |  no truth compromiser 30/01/09
      19.   The Gaza Siege - an act of indigestion 02:01  |  allang 30/01/09
      20.   Reverse Logic??? 04:05  |  Baruch Gold 30/01/09
     Haaretz Hot Topics
    Conflict in Gaza
    Israel vs. Hamas
    Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
    Israel goes to the polls
    More Headlines
    02:46 Israel plans more pinpoint strikes against Hamas in Gaza
    02:49 Netanyahu: I won't evacuate settlements, keep Olmert's promises
    00:12 Israel to appeal Spanish war crimes probe against its senior officials
    22:32 WATCH: Turkey PM storms off Davos stage over Peres remarks on Gaza
    20:17 Hezbollah chief Nasrallah: Mossad behind Mughniyah assassination
    02:55 Leftists drawing up 'blacklist' of officers who fought in Gaza
    01:05 'Terrorist state' or not, Israel expected to sell drones to Turkey
    03:02 Russian officials: Still no plans to sell long-range missiles to Iran
    00:08 U.S. envoy to UN calls on Israel to investigate Gaza war crimes claims
    03:09 Prosecutor says has 'substantial suspicions' about Lieberman
    03:20 Yossi Sarid / Centrists must unite to block fascist Lieberman's march on J'lem
    03:35 Ethiopian immigrants protest forced move from Tiberias absorption center
    03:53 Bar-On: My steady hand kept economy on course
    04:06 Israel Prize-winning Andalusian Orchestra sends musicians home
    23:27 White House: Obama believes U.S. should keep all options open on Iran
    22:11 Source: Cyprus detained Iran arms ship en route to Syria
    04:34 Immigration assistance group: major jump in aliyah from Western nations expected
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Summer in Israel
    Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
    Passover Vacations
    The BEST Passover Vacations around ? Mexico, Arizona and Florida
    Blue And White Forever Israel Army T-shirts
    Wear with Proud Donate the Soldiers Kit
    You can make a direct IMPACT!
    on the life of an Israeli soldier
    State of Israel Bonds
    During this time of market volatility, Israel bonds can help.
    SURF RAMBAM
    Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research.
    Camp Kimama Israel 2009
    The best place for your children this summer
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved