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Palestinians Satisfied that Agreement with Israel will “Open Up Gaza
to the Wider World”, Express Hopes that it will “Jumpstart
Palestinian Economic Recovery”
This
morning, November 15, 2005, Palestinian negotiators reached an
agreement with their Israeli counterparts on the principles for the
reopening of the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt on
November 25, 2005. The agreement also stipulated the lifting of
restrictions on Palestinian movement in and between the occupied
Palestinian territory (oPt) and ensures that Israel will not
obstruct the building of a seaport on the Gaza Strip coastline. ”
Minister of Civil Affairs, Mohammed Dahlan, described the agreement
as “an important step not only in opening up the Gaza Strip to the
wider world, but in improving movement for Palestinians in the
occupied Palestinian territory generally, including between the West
Bank and Gaza Strip.”
In
fact, since Israel concluded the evacuation of its settlers from the
Gaza Strip on September 12th, 2005 Israel has tightened its control
over all entry/exit points to the Gaza Strip, including Rafah. The
Palestinians, the World Bank, and the international community have
long maintained that without the free flow of people and goods
between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank—and between the Gaza Strip
and the rest of the world—the Gaza Strip would remain embroiled in
humanitarian crisis and political instability.
At a
press conference held in Gaza City this afternoon, Minister Dahlan
criticized Israel for having previously frustrated and stalled
discussions on the issues agreed upon today, noting that, prior to
this agreement, Israel had hoped to continue what he termed,
“occupation by remote control.”
Today’s agreement followed months of intensive preparations and
discussions and a marathon of talks brokered by US Secretary of
State, Condoleezza Rice, and Quartet Special Envoy, James Wolfensohn.
Intense negotiations began yesterday afternoon and continued through
the early hours of this morning.
The
Palestinian delegation was comprised of Minister Dahlan, Minister of
Planning, Ghassan Khatib, Minister of Finance, Dr. Salam Fayyad and
Chief of Staff of the President’s Office, Dr. Rafiq Husseini.
Minister Khatib welcomed the agreement, saying, “If implemented in
good faith, this agreement will provide conditions to help jumpstart
Palestinian economic recovery. Our economy has been devastated by
nearly four decades of continuing occupation, so easing restrictions
on the movement of Palestinian people and goods is an absolute
priority.”
The
agreement reached with the Government of Israel represents a package
deal on a number of key issues relating to movement and access. With
regards to the Rafah crossing, a more detailed agreement of
principles was reached between the two sides, the implementation of
which will be worked out during further discussions over the next 48
hours.
Mr.
James Wolfensohn and his team will be leading a series of
implementation meetings with the Palestinian and Israeli negotiating
teams beginning in the next 24 hours. Minister Fayyad clarified that
these meetings were intended “to ensure that the agreement on paper
and the principles it details are realized in practice as soon as
possible.”
According to the agreement, the Rafah crossing will be reopened by
Palestinians on November 25, 2005 for the movement of all
Palestinian ID-holders as well as for exports from Gaza. Imports to
the Gaza Strip will come through Kerem Shalom and will be cleared by
Palestinian Authority (PA) customs officials pending the completion
of Rafah crossing’s preparations for the processing of imports.
The
agreement stipulates that the European Union (EU) will support the
PA’s management of the Rafah crossing within an active monitoring
capacity. The EU will also provide consultancy to the PA on
capacity-building and will not have law enforcement powers.
Minister Dahlan emphasized that “There will be no live transmission
of images from the Rafah crossing to the Government of Israel,”
noting that the EU will receive and view real-time images in a
Liaison Office at which Palestinian and Israeli representatives will
also be present.
Dr.
Rafiq Husseini also spoke of the agreement in positive terms,
highlighting that “[Under this agreement] Israel has no power to
restrict any Palestinian ID holders from using the Rafah crossing.”
According to the agreement, the PA is the only party that may
prevent the movement of any Palestinian goods or people through
Rafah on the basis of security considerations.
In
the agreement, Israel committed to allow immediately the export of
agricultural products from the Gaza Strip in addition to allowing
150 trucks per day to leave the Gaza Strip through El-Mintar (Karni)
crossing point no later than December 15, 2005. It was further
agreed that at least 400 trucks per day will leave the Gaza Strip by
the end of 2006.
Moreover, the two sides agreed to partially reinstitute the safe
passage arrangements between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank
through the establishment of bus convoys no later than December 15,
2005, and truck convoys no later than January 15, 2006.
During negotiations, the PA provided details to the US
Administration on all the movement restrictions currently faced by
Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Following this, and in line
with its Road Map commitments to return to the status quo ante of
September 2000, the Government of Israel agreed with the US
Administration to reduce its internal closures to the maximum extent
possible (including the illegal road blocks and checkpoints) in the
West Bank no later than December 31, 2005.
The
parties also agreed that the construction of the seaport will
commence immediately and to begin detailed discussions on the
reopening of the Yasser Arafat International Airport in Gaza.
Summing up the agreement as “a step on the way to greater freedom
for Palestinians,” Minister Khatib thanked Secretary Rice and Mr.
Wolfensohn for what he called, “the exceptional efforts they
demonstrated in mediating between the two sides over the last
several months, and especially over the last few hours.”
“We
also thank the EU for agreeing to serve as the third party at the
Rafah crossing and look forward to the continued active involvement
of Secretary Rice, Mr. Wolfensohn and the EU,” he said.
The
full text of the Agreed Principles for Rafah Crossing and the
Agreement on Movement and Access is available on the homepage of the
Negotiations Affairs Department website: http://www.nad-plo.org/index.php
For
further information, please contact: Sanaa Hammoud (Arabic & Hebrew)
Legal Advisor Negotiations Support Unit Tel: 054-432-5542
Sharif Hamadeh (English) Communications Advisor Negotiations Support
Unit Tel: 0599-490-329
Source: PLO
Negotiations Affairs Department
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