Peres wants Gaza-West Bank train
Vice premier meets with Palestinian negotiator Erekat in Tel Aviv Friday, says Israel recommends a train from Gaza to West Bank to ensure safe passage. Peres: We have left Gaza forever and have no intention of going back
Following a thorough examination, Israel has decided to recommend the construction of a train to ensure a safe passage between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, Vice Premier Shimon Peres said Friday during a meeting with Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.
The train's route, if and when the plan is approved, will pass through the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip to the Tarkumiah village south of Mount Hebron, Peres said.
Israel examined three alternatives
to ensure a safe passage, which would also ensure the safety of Israel's citizens. They included an underground road, a secured highway which would pass through Kiryat Gat and a direct train from Gaza to the West Bank.
However, Israeli officials estimate that the government would not be able to finance the construction of the train without international financial assistance.
The Palestinians received the basic principles of the idea, which will be examined in the next few days by their negotiating team.
"I believe that a train is the most efficient and best idea among the options presented to us," Peres told Erekat.
He added that he hopes “within a week we’ll be able to reach an agreement (with the Palestinians) on the issue of (Gaza Strip border) crossings.”
Sharon-Abbas meeting not discussed
Peres and Erekat met Friday afternoon in the vice premier’s office in Tel Aviv. The session was also attended by members of the negotiation teams on both sides.
The main issue discussed in the meeting was a solution to the problem of the border crossings, and particularly the Rafah crossing, which connects the Gaza Strip to Egypt.
However, the two figures did not discuss the expected meeting between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
The Palestinians want to gain full control of the crossings, without any Israeli presence, but Israel is worried that without proper supervision weapons and terrorists could flow into Gaza.
Erekat said there are other issues that need to be discussed, including the question of prisoner release.
Following the meeting, Peres said: “The session was meant to clarify the problems we are facing, where we stand, and whether any progress has been made towards resolving them.”
“We have left Gaza forever and have no intention of going back there,” he added. “There is no point at this time to go into the disagreements and misunderstandings between us and the Palestinians. I hope we can overcome them. I hope that within a week a solution will be found to the Rafah crossing problem.”
Meanwhile, Erekat said: “We are discussing the question of the Rafah crossing…we are moving towards finding a solution to the problems raised. As Peres said, we don’t want to turn Gaza into one large prison.”
Turning his attention to the expected Sharon-Abbas summit, Erekat said: “We’ll wait for Abbas to return from his Washington trip,” scheduled for next week.
'Kenaan wasn't a big democrat'
Asked to comment on the suicide of Syrian Interior Minister Ghazi Kenaan Peres said that “the Americans are investigating the issue and there is no point in voicing our opinion. As for Ghazi Kanaan, we know him from his days in Lebanon and he was not a big democrat. Yet the (U.N.) team will investigate and conclude. We need to wait.”
The anticipated Sharon-Abbas summit, which was initiated by Jordanian King Abdullah, has been postponed from Thursday till the end of the month or till early November. The two men will meet when Abbas concludes a visit to the United Stated, which starts on October 20.
The Palestinians demanded Israel concede to some of their demands, such as withdrawing from major Palestinian cities and releasing security prisoners, in compliance with understandings reached at the Sharam el-Sheikh summit. Israel argued that it is too early to grant the Palestinians their demands, prompting a row between the sides as to the usefulness of the summit.
Both sides have agreed however to keep up efforts to hold the summit and ensure it is relatively successful.
Despite the deadlock both sides issued a joint statement in which they vowed to remain committed to the road map peace plan, the Sharam el-Sheikh understandings, and to reducing violence. Sharon’s deputy advisor Dov Weisglass and Saeb Erekat signed the mutual commitment document.
The preparatory talks for a Sharon-Abbas summit have been very successful, sources familiar with the talks said Friday, adding that Sharon and Abbas will attempt to implement a deal on the Gaza crossings when they meet.
The U.S. and Jordan have pressured Israel and the Palestinian Authority to arrange for Sharon and Abbas to meet, hoping that a summit between the two leaders will jumpstart the stalled peace process.
- Ali Waked contributed to the report
