(Reuters) Dan Williams - A disagreement over the role of EU security monitors kept Israel's cabinet on Sunday from approving a border crossing for Palestinians between Gaza and Egypt, political sources said. Israel had accepted an Egyptian proposal to let Palestinians travel freely via the Rafah terminal, but with foreign oversight - a role to be filled by EU monitors. "Israel wants the EU to have powers of arrest should its inspectors encounter a terrorist at the crossing. The EU wants to limit its role to oversight and reporting only," an Israeli political source said. The EU's Middle East envoy, Marc Otte, said the EU was ready to play a "third party" role at the crossing and monitor both Israeli and Palestinian operations there. "Obviously what we will not be doing is taking the place of the Palestinian customs and security officials. In the end the Palestinian Authority will be in charge of its borders," he added.
2005-11-08 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive