Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., December 18, 2007 Tevet 9, 5768 | | Israel Time: 23:26 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Hanukkah

Palestinians waiting to cross the Rafah border crossing from the Gaza Strip into Egypt on March 8. (AP) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 10:18 05/04/2007 Israel, PA agree to open trade passages to Gaza Strip By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service Israel and the Palestinian Authority have agreed on opening trade passages to the Gaza Strip. A terminal for imports to Gaza will operate via the Kerem Shalom Crossing. Palestinians will be able to import and export goods from Egypt and other countries via the Rafah Crossing alone. The plan, which is supported by the international community, is pending the approval of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz. Advertisement A special trade terminal for the Gaza Strip has recently been prepared at the Erez Crossing in the northern end. This terminal would enable the passage of a small quantity of goods (60-80 trucks a day) to the Strip. The Defense Ministry is preparing to renovate the entrance area to the Strip on the Palestinian side of Erez, as part of the preparations for setting up a Turkish-controled industrial zone near the crossing, between Israel and Gaza. The plan was initiated during the Second Lebanon War by Peretz's political aide, Hagai Alon. It was completed by an inter-ministerial team headed by Amos Gilad, head of foreign policy and security in the Defense Ministry, in an attempt to solve Gaza's economic straits caused by the obstructions in the Karni passage. The passages will be operated by the Airport Authority. The PA said it would privatize the border passages but leave the security and supervision of customs officials in the hands of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Presidential Guard. Peretz has agreed to the plan in principle but has yet to issue his final approval. Meanwhile, however, some problems have emerged that could delay the plan's implementation. According to the plan, Palestinian customs officials are to charge customs and VAT at the new passage located on Israeli territory that borders Egypt. However, following the formation of the Palestinian unity government, Israel demanded that the responsibility for the Palestinian customs authority be transferred from the Palestinian finance ministry to the President's Office. Head of the negotiations team Saeb Erekat presented the Israelis with several letters from Abbas confirming the transfer of the authorities over the customs to his office. Erekat also produced confirmation of opening a bank account, into which funds collected at the passage will be deposited. Olmert and Peretz must now decide whether to sign the new customs protocol. Another problem is that of exporting goods from Gaza. According to the agreement, the Rafah Crossing would open for export if the present passage operates effectively for about a year. However, Israel is yet to approve the agreement to open the passage to export. This approval is likely delayed due to security considerations. "I see no reason for Israel not to agree to open the Rafah Crossing to export," Erekat told Haaretz. "The financial issue has been settled and now we must proceed with the plan rapidly." Bookmark to del.icio.us Organic memory Israeli research is among '50 most significant scientific breakthroughs in 2007.' Floating the PA International donors pledged $7.4 billion to help boost the PA economy .   1.   Opening trade passage - Shalit MUST be in 02:46  |  * BEN JABO 05/04/07   2.   #1 Their word by it`s lonesome is meaningless 03:30  |  jake 05/04/07   3.   zero tolerance 04:28  |  real vision 05/04/07   4.   no good faith with occupiers 06:55  |  arab 05/04/07   5.   Shalit-home, QASSAMS-stopped. NO TRADE before it is done. 06:58  |  Vittorio 05/04/07   6.   trade passage 08:13  |  colin 05/04/07   7.   So now can we stop hearing the "Gaza is free" BS? 08:23  |  Chan de Frey 05/04/07   8.   #7 Chan de Frey you are the kleptomaniac 11:31  |  Hastaroth 05/04/07   9.   The picture on top of the article 11:35  |  Hastaroth 05/04/07   10.   but they should boycott the zionist entity! 13:04  |  Leon Rosgarten 05/04/07   11.   To Chan de Frey No 7 13:05  |  Neil 05/04/07   12.   ABOUT TOME TOO - LONG OVERDUE! 13:51  |  Settler 05/04/07   13.   To #11 14:22  |  Zero 05/04/07   14.   All trade to and from the Gaza Strip should go 14:59  |  Fred 05/04/07   15.   #8 & 11 - Gaza still occupied & Rafah crossing borders 15:00  |  A Bethlehemite 05/04/07   16.   #4 Arab. Your Hate.... 17:29  |  Bill 05/04/07   17.   And? 17:39  |  Paulo 05/04/07   18.   Olmert & Peretz may "agree", but Israel DOESN`T agree TO THEM 19:14  |  Wendy 05/04/07   19.   Bill`s Response #16 19:14  |  Double Click 05/04/07   20.   NEWS: Yes, They need trade pssages. 20:01  |  Bongo is back 05/04/07   21.   WHEN WILL ISRAEL LEARN!!!!! 20:09  |  SETH 05/04/07   22.   #4..arab 20:13  |  Nemesis 05/04/07   23.   #19...double click(fool) 20:32  |  Nemesis 05/04/07   24.   Pals still don`t accept Israel rights 21:20  |  bruce ackman 05/04/07   25.   to #4 21:56  |  Realist 05/04/07   26.   #10 Rosgarten - Boycott the Zionist entity totally 01:41  |  * BEN JABO 06/04/07   27.   Free the Gazans 01:21  |  kiwi girl 08/04/07   28.   #27 Kiwi Girl - Good grief, not another Aussie Loonie 03:05  |  * BEN JABO 08/04/07   29.   BEN JABBER 05:12  |  kiwi girl 08/04/07   30.   #29 Kiwi Boy 18:23  |  * BEN JABO 08/04/07   31.   Kiwi girl 12:23  |  Nerys 09/04/07   32.   When will Israel learn, Seth 23:04  |  Sharonelle 09/04/07   33.   Ben Jabo #28 23:08  |  Sharonelle 09/04/07   34.   #33 Sharonelle 02:38  |  * BEN JABO 10/04/07   35.   #33 Sharonelle - Today`s update 18:08  |  * BEN JABO 10/04/07   36.   Shalit must be on first truck 22:14  |  * BEN JABO 10/04/07   37.   To Sharonelle 34 35 22:48  |  Lee 10/04/07   38.   To Sharonell 34 35 22:58  |  Lee 10/04/07   39.   To kiwigirl 08:50  |  Adrian de Klerk 23/04/07   40.   #29 22:47  |  Moshe 18/12/07

Today Online IDF strikes kill at least 13 Islamic Jihad, Hamas militants Responses: 406 Bradley Burston: Killing the Palestinian who wishes you dead Responses: 82 Rosner's guest: The PA's goal is the destruction of Israel Responses: 95 Yoel Marcus: Israel doesn't need a new Vietnam called Gaza Responses: 105 Officials: Israel to allow construction in W. Bank settlements Responses: 160 Rosner's Domain Rabin's long memory and the U.S. NIE report on Iran The more Jews complain about Huckabee...(What to Read) Guest: Leader of the Zionist Organization of America on post-Annapolis Mideast Without the Reform movement in Israel, there's no Reform movement More Headlines 22:47 Olmert: We will continue to seek out top militants 23:03 White House confirms Bush will visit the Middle East in January 22:24 U.S., Britain to host investors' conference for PA in Bethlehem 21:22 Falafel recipe painted on West Bank fence as part of protest 20:51 Doctor at Jewish NPO in Ethiopia nominated for CNN 'Hero' award 23:25 Gov't to recognize shell-shocked IDF troops as disabled in new law 22:45 Islamic Jihad swears revenge as 11 killed in IDF raids in Gaza 19:55 Israel signs free-trade accord with South American bloc 12:33 Vice Premier suggests swapping land with PA to keep settlements 20:44 Knesset passes bill granting negative tax to low income workers 17:12 Education Min. to continue funding Hebrew-language classes for olim Previous Editions Select Day 17 dec 16 dec 14 dec 13 dec 12 dec 11 dec 10 dec 09 dec 07 dec 06 dec 05 dec 04 dec

Special Offers Advertisement Inbal Jerusalem Hotel Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt. Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved