EU to check travelers under Rafah plan

Top cabinet ministers yesterday approved a plan calling for European Union officials to inspect travelers entering the Gaza Strip from Egypt through the Rafah border crossing.

If the plan is realized, it will mark the first time Israel will allow the EU to play a major role in Israeli-Palestinian relations.

Meanwhile, security sources said Israeli and Palestinian negotiators made progress during a meeting last night on reopening the Rafah terminal.

One of the problems hampering Israeli-Palestinian talks over Rafah is a disagreement over how much authority the European inspectors would wield. The cabinet decided that Israel wants the Europeans to have greater authority than observers and be able to intervene in dangerous security situations, while the Palestinians want more limited authority for the EU.

Israel is also demanding that it receive information in real time from the border control authorities via cameras filming those who use the Rafah crossing, to which the Palestinians object. Nonetheless, Israel