After U.S. requests, Israel to decide on opening Gaza crossings

Following heavy U.S. pressure to permanently open the crossings to the Gaza Strip for food, medications and other goods, the security cabinet will convene Sunday in Jerusalem to discuss the issue.

During his visit to Washington D.C. last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. President Barack Obama that Israel is not interested "in taking any action that could strengthen the Hamas regime in Gaza."

Israel is limiting the flow of most goods, saying it fears some materials could be used by militants. The situation in Gaza repeatedly came up in Netanyahu's talks in Washington, including with Obama, National Security Advisor General James Jones, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Congress members. Jones and Obama's special Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, told Netanyahu that opening the crossings could help the effort to curb arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip.

The Americans believe that about 80 percent of the smuggling tunnels between Egypt and Gaza are used to bring in civilian goods, food and medications. Should Israel alter its policy at the crossings, according to the American point of view, it would effectively "retire" many tunnels. Netanyahu reportedly told the Americans he would give them an answer on the tunnel issue after Sunday's cabinet meeting.

During their meeting last Monday, Obama prodded Israel to ease restrictions on allowing construction materials into Gaza, to enable rebuilding there after Israel's offensive in December and January.

The Gaza blockade is a sensitive topic that U.S. officials have avoided discussing publicly. But Obama said that "if the people of Gaza have no hope, if they can't even get clean water at this point, if the border closures are so tight that it is impossible for reconstruction and humanitarian efforts to take place, then that is not going to be a recipe for Israel's long-term security or a constructive peace track to move forward."