Palestinians Say Agreement will ‘Open Up Gaza to the Wider World’

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 allowign 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.