Vice Premier Shimon Peres is set to meet Tuesday with Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement, James D. Wolfensohn.
On the agenda are improvements to Palestinian daily life and a potential train line from Gaza to the West Bank. The “Haaretz” Hebrew-language daily reports Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has given his blessing to the project.
For the railroad, the pair is considering a plan based on the “Euro-tunnel” model. Should the plan come to fruition, Palestinians would enter the tunnel at the Erez Checkpoint and exit in Hebron.
Wolfensohn called the meeting to discuss ways for him to assist in the short term. His term of office ends in December, the projected end date for the disengagement plan.
Sharon reportedly agrees to train project
During a five-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, Wolfensohn - a former head of the World Bank - is expected to attempt to accelerate the pullout program and push for funding from the international community.
Peres is expected to raise the issue of improving daily life for the Palestinians, such as technology to ease traffic at the Karni crossing from Gaza into Israel.
One of the biggest projects to be discussed at the meeting is the creation of a train line between Gaza and the West Bank. According to plans, the route would lead from the Erez Checkpoint to the village of Trakomiyya, near Hebron.
Prime Minister Sharon has reportedly agreed to the project, as it would minimize Palestinian road traffic between Gaza and the West Bank.
Senior advisor to Peres, Einat Wilf, told Ynet the project is in both Palestinian and Israeli interests.
“The train is meant to serve Palestinians, but would cross Israeli territor," she said. "We are investigating the possibility that an international force would agree to carry out the project, or to build terminals at either end.”
“It is a better alternative to free-flowing Palestinian road traffic in Israel,” she said.
Wolfensohn is also expected to present plans for a Gaza-Ashdod train line.
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