Rafah border crossing
Photo: AP
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz
Photo: Hanan Greenberg
PA to receive Egyptian ammunitions
First load of Kalashnikov magazines will cross Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, Yedioth Ahronot, Israel’s leading newspaper, reports
Israel gave the green light to Egypt to transfer ammunitions to the Palestinian Authority security forces in the Gaza Strip in accordance with a Cabinet decision last week to strengthen PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas before the January elections and assist him in restraining the activities of terror groups.
On Sunday, the first load of Kalashnikov magazines will cross the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, Yedioth Ahronot, Israel’s leading newspaper, reported Sunday. Security officials said that the United States has funded the purchase.
In light of strong opposition from top Israel Defense Forces officials to plans to arm the PA and strengthen its security forces the defense establishment decided to limit the transfer to ammunitions. The transfer of weapons has been put off for the time being.
Negotiations over the operational procedures at the crossing kicked off Sunday between officials from the defense ministry and European Union representatives under the auspice of Vice Premier Shimon Peres, whose office has been put in charge of the talks.
Under an agreement reached between Israel and Egypt over the reopening of the Rafah crossing following Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, it was concluded that the EU will assist the PA in operating the crossing and overseeing security checks. Israel will hold the right to monitor the crossing through closed-circuit cameras and data on humans and goods received from the PA.
The Palestinians want EU involvement be restricted to overseeing and reporting on the security checks conducted by Palestinian security officials, yet Israel has pushed for a more central role, arguing that EU observers should have law enforcement responsibilities.
The Palestinians have also objected to Israel’s demand that closed-circuit cameras be fitted in the crossing allowing the defense establishment visual supervision of the checking procedures.
On a visit to the United States over the weekend, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz promised that Israel would make sure the Rafah crossing is functional by the end of the year.
“It is clear that the Americans would have liked to see a more significant progress but we will not endanger Israel’s security. To open the border crossing these days involves a calculated risk,” Mofaz said.
Mofaz noted that there has been a decline in arms smuggling activities since Egypt took on the responsibility of guarding the border adding that Israel expects consistent results.
