Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., May 11, 2008 Iyyar 6, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:53 (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

Palestinian children shouting during a Hamas protest calling on Egypt to reopen the Rafah border last month. (Reuters) Last update - 14:01 10/05/2008 Palestinians: Gaza-Egypt border opens temporarily By News Agencies Tags: Egypt, Hamas, Gaza Strip  The main border crossing between the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and Egypt was temporarily opened on Saturday under a deal between the Islamist group and Cairo, Palestinian officials said. The crossing at Rafah had been largely closed since early February, when Egypt resealed the border after Hamas gunmen blasted it open in defiance of an Israeli-led blockade of the Strip. With U.S. backing, Egypt has been trying to broker an unofficial truce between Israel and Hamas to stop violence that has imperiled peace talks. The proposed deal calls for Rafah to reopen under Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' control. Advertisement Saturday's opening would allow Palestinians wounded in clashes with Israel, and other medical cases, to leave Gaza for treatment, Hamas officials said. They said the crossing would remain open for two further days, in which Gazans stranded in the Egyptian Sinai since the January border breach would be allowed to return. Palestinians with other nationalities would also have the option of leaving. On the Egypt side of the Rafah terminal an anxious Palestinian doctor, Mohammed al-Taweel, who works in Saudi Arabia, said he hopes he can cross to Gaza to see his seven children. "I have been waiting for the terminal opening for a month and five days," al-Taweel said. "The problem is if I managed to cross, I am not sure I can return." On Friday, Hamas leader in exile Khaled Meshal urged Egypt to open Rafah crossing if Israel rejected its truce proposal, Hamas and other militant Palestinian factions endorsed the proposal in principle in late April. Speaking in Damascus, Meshal said that Egypt should open the terminal even if Israel rejects the truce. "If Israel rejects this Egyptian effort," Mashaal said, "I demand Egypt and Arab countries to immediately take the unilateral initiative to lift the siege and open the Rafah crossing. No Arab has an excuse not to do that," he said, vowing to take creative measures. Under a U.S.-brokered deal, European Union monitors had been stationed at Rafah until Hamas Islamists took control of Gaza last June after routing Fatah forces loyal to Abbas. A European diplomatic source said earlier this week that EU would not be at the crossing during its temporary reopening. Related articles: Hamas official hints at another Gaza border breach Egyptian troops go on alert, fear new Hamas bid to breach Gaza border Bookmark to del.icio.us   Siniora vs. Hezbollah The Lebanon prime minister accuses Hezbollah of staging a coup. Plant down - again Palestinians say tha Gaza power plant has closed due to a fuel shortage.   1.   "Creative Measures" 15:56  |  idf_sergeant 10/05/08   2.   EGYPT AID THE PALESTINIANS 15:57  |  JH 10/05/08   3.   Israel in control of the Egypt-Gaza border crossing. 18:42  |  Jean Van Daem 10/05/08   4.   idf_sergeant 23:32  |  Mark Lincoln 10/05/08

Read & React Hezbollah fighters start withdrawing from Beirut Responses: 629 British PM: Israel`s creation one of 20th century`s `greatest achievements` Responses: 346 Ahmadinejad: Israel is a 'stinking corpse' doomed to disappear Responses: 382 Key witness 'fears Olmert may seek to harm him' Responses: 100 Jews bend over backward to stay neutral in U.S. vote Responses: 129 Jerome Segal: Through tough love, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be ended Responses: 151 Rosner's Domain Obama and the Jews: is 61% enough? Who's pushing the US to war with Iran? (WTR) Poll: If Olmert is gone, who should be PM? What Muslims really think? (WTR) The Democrats are fighting over Iran More Headlines 01:57 Hezbollah claims victory as Lebanon gov't U-turns 02:13 ANALYSIS: Clashes in Lebanon have yet to affect Israel 22:48 Olmert to appeal move to hear early testimony from key state witness 22:16 21 Qassams hit the Negev on Saturday, lightly hurting five 03:03 Organizers hope Olmert probe won't cast shadow on Peres conference 01:16 Jewish Republicans are jockeying to win McCain's favor 01:06 ANALYSIS: Hezbollah, Lebanon gov't are boxers girding for next round 22:24 Rabbi testifies in support of Hamas-linked imam facing U.S. ban 03:02 Kfir brigade leads in W. Bank violations 03:24 Tales from a N.Y. cabby: 'My first wife was Muslim, my second Jewish' Previous Editions Select Day 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may 02 may 01 may 30 apr 29 apr 28 apr 27 apr

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