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Photo: AFP
Livni, Rice in Washington
Photo: AFP
Photo: AFP
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas
Photo: AFP

Rice urges Israel, PA to solve crossings crisis

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks with PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni; Rice urges Israel, PA to make sure Gaza border crossings are open to avert humanitarian crisis

Shortly before Hamas’ government is sworn in and just three days before the Israeli general election, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke by telephone Friday with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, with whom she discussed the issue of the border crossings Kerem Hashalom and Karni, which have been closed for a long period and are being alternately opened for short periods.

 

State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said the purpose of the conversations was to "talk to all three about how we can work together to ensure that the border remains open between Israel and Palestinian areas.”

 

He said the Palestinian people need to continue to get humanitarian aid and products across these borders.

 

Livni assured Rice that Israel is saving no effort to differentiate between Palestinian civilians and the Hamas government and to allow the transport of humanitarian aid and products to the Palestinian Authority.

 

Abbas to Rice: I'll control talks on crossings

 

Abbas promised Rice that the issue of the border crossings will remain his responsibility.

 

Abbas told Rice that he will appoint a team to oversee security and social issues at the crossings and that Hamas will not be allowed to deal with the issue. According to aides, this is “to not give Israel an excuse to continue closing the crossings at will.”

 

Abbas plans to set up a new presidential agency to oversee border crossings between the Palestinians and Israel, according to Palestinian legislator Saeb Erekat, who said he's been designated the agency's chief. The agency's purpose would be to settle border disputes with Israel that might keep the crossings closed, Erekat said.

 

Abbas consolidates his power ahead of Hamas takeover

 

Meanwhile, in a measure to consolidate his power before the Hamas government is installed Abbas decided to oversee a Palestinian investment fund that controls hundreds of millions of dollars, Erekat said - a move that would deny Hamas access to the money after they take power next week.

 

Hamas' victory in January 25 parliamentary elections provoked Western threats to isolate the Palestinian government unless its new leaders abandon their call for Israel's destruction. Abbas, elected separately last year on a platform of making peace with Israel, hopes to serve as an alternate conduit for international ties, and in recent weeks has taken several steps to shore up his power.

 

His predecessor, Yasser Arafat, set up the investment fund in 2000 to calm an international outcry over a crony's diversion of hundreds of millions of dollars from the Palestinian treasury. Arafat appointed his reformist finance minister, Salam Fayyad, to invest the money on

 

behalf of the Palestinian Authority, but after Fayyad resigned to run for parliament in January, then-Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia took over the fund.

 

With the new Hamas Cabinet set to be sworn in on Thursday, Abbas intends to keep the fund under his office, a senior aide said on condition of anonymity because no official action has been taken yet.

 

It is not clear how much money is in the fund. An international audit in early 2005 said investments had brought the USD 900 million fund to USD 1.4 billion, but the Palestinian Authority has dipped into it to pay for ongoing expenses.

 

Abbas' control of the money would make financial matters even worse for Hamas as they take over a government that has survived, in part, on international aid for its 12-year existence.

 

The cash flow is expected to get tighter after Hamas takes power, because Western nations have threatened to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in aid unless the group changes its violent ways.

 

Abbas' plan to set up a border crossings agency would be another power play. The crossings have so far been managed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, which will now be run by the incoming Hamas government.

 

Israel has kept the Gaza Strip's main cargo crossing closed for most of the year, citing security threats.

 

Palestinians claim they are being punished for Hamas’ electoral victory, and until recently, rejected Israel's offer of alternate crossings while the Karni passage is closed.

 

Another main crossing, between Gaza and Egypt, is run by the Palestinians, with EU inspectors, who might prefer to deal with officials close to Abbas, rather than with Hamas.

 

A presidential decree to establish the agency is sitting on Abbas' desk, but he has not yet signed it, said his aide. Abbas is attending an Arab summit in Khartoum, Sudan, and is expected back in the West Bank next week.

 

Ali Waked contributed to this report

 


פרסום ראשון: 03.24.06, 22:22
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