JERUSALEM — Israel and the Palestinian Authority have sought to
resolve a dispute over inspection authority over any Palestinian border
with Egypt.
Israel has insisted that its nationals inspect cargo and other traffic
from the Gaza Strip to prevent the smuggling of weapons and
explosives. The PA has refused, saying it would allow only third-party
nationals to monitor the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
Under the Israeli plan, all Palestinian traffic would move from the
Rafah terminal south to Nitzana. Over the last few years, Nitzana has served
as a transit point for Egyptian cargo into the Jewish state. Officials said
Israel would evacuate the Rafah terminal upon completion of the withdrawal
from the Gaza Strip.
The United States appears to support a plan to station foreign nationals
at Rafah. Officials said the U.S. proposal has been discussed with Israeli
military and government representatives.
The Israeli-PA dispute emerged as the government of Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon completed arrangements for the deployment of 750 Egyptian police
commandos along the Sinai border with the Gaza Strip. The commandos along
the eight-kilometer line would be equipped with armored vehicles,
helicopters and anti-tank weapons.
Israeli parliamentarians have demanded approval of the deployment of the
Egyptian commandos. Yuval Steinitz, the chairman of the Knesset Foreign
Affairs and Defense Committee has opposed the deployment, saying the draft
accord does not commit Egypt to stopping the smuggling of weapons from the
Sinai to the Gaza Strip.
