United States and European diplomats on Tuesday convened the first session of a security working group with Israelis and Palestinians meant to assure regular opening of the only land link between Gaza and the Arab world, a Western participant said.

The meeting was convened in Jerusalem by the senior U.S. envoy, Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton, the participant said. Among those attending were Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad, and representatives from Egypt and the European Union, he added.

The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt was a key part of an agreement
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brokered a year ago by the United States over keeping the crossing points
open. However, in the meantime, the crossing has been closed often, especially since the abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit by Hamas-linked militants at the end of June near the crossing.

Also, Israel complains that Palestinians have used Israel's exit from the
Gaza-Egypt border a year ago to smuggle large amounts of weapons into Gaza.

Rafah is Gaza's only land link to the world without passing through Israel.

The participant said no significant progress was made at Tuesday's talks, but they were significant as a step toward solving the problems. He said another session of the security working group was set for six weeks from now, and in the meantime, committees would meet to consider the
specific issues.

Erekat refused to discuss the meeting, and Israeli officials were not
available for comment.

The European Union has agreed to keep monitors stationed at the Gaza Strip's border crossing with Egypt for another six months, officials said on Tuesday.

Some 70 European monitors have been overseeing the Rafah
crossing under a 12-month agreement, which took effect at the end of November 2005 and was aimed at opening up Gaza after Israel's disengagement.

EU foreign ministers approved the six-month extension of the monitoring mission to May 24, 2007 at a regular meeting in Brussels on Monday.

Palestinians technically control the crossing but its operations can be blocked by Israel, which has shut the crossing frequently this year because of what it says are threats from Palestinian militants.

EU officials had earlier warned that the European monitors
could be withdrawn from Rafah at the end of their mandate
because of concerns about Israeli restrictions.

EU foreign ministers called on Israel to "respect previous
agreements and ... to do its utmost to ensure that they (Gaza's border crossings) are opened and remain open," the EU monitors said in a statement.