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Abbas and Olmert in J'lem
Photo: GPO

Olmert, Abbas to ask Egypt to seal Gaza border

Israeli, Palestinian leaders agree to approach President Mubarak and urge him to close breached border. Israeli PM says flow of humanitarian aid and fuel supplies to Gaza will resume

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will approach Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and ask him to close the breached Gaza-Egypt border.

 

The two leaders convened in Jerusalem Sunday afternoon and expressed grave concern regarding the situation on the border. Olmert and Abbas said that they believe that Israel and the PA, as well as Egypt share a common interest in the matter.

 

Sources in Olmert's office said that the meeting was held in a "positive atmosphere"."

 

In the meeting, Olmert guaranteed Abbas that Israel would resume the flow of humanitarian aid and fuel supplies to Gaza.

 

Olmert made the remark following Abbas' request that Israel refrain as much as possible from harming the civilian population in the coastal strip.

 

Most of the two-hour, private meeting was dedicated to discussing the Gaza blockage. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and head of the Palestinian negotiations team, Ahmed Qureia then began their meeting.

 

Earlier Sunday, Israel announced it will resume fuel shipments to Gaza.

 

The State informed the High Court – in a rebuttal to a petition recently filed by human rights groups Adalah and Gisha, demanding end to the blockade of the Strip – that it will be renewing fuel supplies, but saying that "should the rocket fire continues, we will consider limiting the supplies again."

 

Attorney Fatma al-Azu, who represented the petitioners at a special court session, said "the State is collectively punishing the citizens (of Gaza) in violation of international law."

 

The meeting between Olmert and Abbas, said sources in the PMO, took place after it was decide the two should meet "in light of the concerning developments at the Rafah Crossing, which carry strategic implication changing the nature of the sector.

 

"Israel is concerned that closing the border ma y become impossible." 

 


פרסום ראשון: 01.27.08, 15:57
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