Over 1,500 Palestinians cross border
For the first time in its history, Palestinian Authority to exercise control over gateway to another country; PA Chairman Abbas: Achievement belongs first and foremost to martyrs, prisoners
History in the making: The Rafah border crossing was officially opened Friday by the Palestinian Authority and Egypt, after an agreement on the crossing's operation was reached between Israel and the Palestinians two weeks ago.
Many Palestinians waited from six in the morning for the crossing to open, despite the passage only opening in the afternoon hours.
Some wanted to cross in order to meet relatives, while others were students. Residents also crossed due to medical reasons. For some Gaza residents, it was their first time crossing the border.
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan praised the decision to open the passage, and said in a statement the event was the result of an important decision by the Israeli government.
He told Ynet that the opening of the border was an immense relief. "Finally, I can go out and take care of myself, without the Israelis telling me I am prevented for security reasons to go through the border, as they told many Palestinians. Thank god it's over and thank God we can go freely without anyone preventing us from doing it by force, this is a big day, and I hope this is how all of our occupied land will be liberated inshallah (with God's help)."
Earlier, Palestinians in Gaza celebrated the opening of passage, and, according to the European Union, 1,587 Gaza residents crossed the border since it opened.
For the first time in is history, the PA will now exercise almost complete control over a gateway to another country. In the past, Israeli security officials expressed grave concerns regarding the prospect of the crossing’s opening.
Organizers of the inauguration ceremony posted a large sign above the crossing declaring: “Rafah crossing – the Palestinian gateway to freedom.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said “we would not allow Gaza to become a large prison for a million and a half Palestinians.” The PA chairman added that the Palestinians would not allow the Israeli Gaza withdrawal to be the last step.
"This is a small dream that is part of our progress on the way to an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,” Abbas said. “The achievement we’re celebrating today belongs first and foremost to the martyrs, wounded, prisoners, and all Palestinians who have sacrificed plenty in this struggle.”
Representatives of the European Union, which will send monitors to man the border crossing, were present at the ceremony, as well as Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman and other Egyptian, Jordanian, and Palestinian officials.
More than 1,500 Gaza residents cross the border (Photo: Reuters)
Monitors from Italy, Romania, Luxembourg and Denmark are supervising the border, and the number of international monitors will eventually reach 70.
'Milestone'
The opening of the Rafah crossing represents a "milestone in Palestinian history," a Palestinian official said.
Beginning Saturday, the crossing is scheduled to open for four hours every day. Hours of operation will be extended gradually, and once all preparations and inspections at the crossing are completed, including an evaluation of the EU monitors, the crossing will start operating around the clock.
The final border crossing deal was concluded in a meeting between American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz.
According to the deal, passage through the Rafah crossing will be limited to goods and people, with vehicles banned from traveling through. The agreement also states that only Palestinians carrying PA identification cards will be allowed to cross the border.
After the deal on the crossing was signed, Defense Minister Mofaz said that "this is another step in the framework of the moves aimed at establishing trust between Israel and the Palestinians. This agreement can serve as the foundation for regional cooperation."
