Israel holds talks with Egypt over Rafah crossing

Israel and Egypt have been conducting EU-backed negotiations in an effort to reopen the Rafah crossing on the Egypt-Gaza border. The main bone of contention is Egypt's insistence that Hamas supervise the crossing on the Palestinian side, a demand Israel vehemently opposes.

Amos Gilad, head of the political-military bureau at the Defense Ministry, returned from Cairo two days ago after holding talks on the matter with his Egyptian counterparts, Ynet has learned Tuesday night.

In the meantime, Egypt and Hamas are also engaged in dialogue over the border arrangements.

Hamas gunmen in Rafah crossing (Archive photo: AP)

A Hamas delegation met Tuesday with Egyptian officials in the Rafah border terminal in an effort to try to open the border and tighten security, officials said.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the two sides were discussing security arrangements along the border and possible ways to allow Palestinians still stuck in Egypt to cross back into the Gaza Strip.

Israel pleased with Egyptian efforts on border

Gilad's visit to Cairo was aimed at influencing the future security arrangements in Rafah. The Israeli envoy met with Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman and Defense Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, and the two sides managed to achieve some progress in talks.

Israel has agreed to reopen the crossing under the same conditions it has operated in the past: With EU monitors supervision, Fatah control on the Palestinians side, Egyptian control on the Egyptian side and Israeli monitoring of traffic through the crossing via screens placed in the Kerem Shalom crossing.

The Egyptians have already agreed to most of these terms, but they believe Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, should assume control of the Palestinian side of the crossing.

However, Gilad's understandings with the Egyptians have yet to receive official endorsement from the government. Minister Ami Ayalon has already expressed his discontent over the fact that the dialogue has not been discussed by the security cabinet.

In the coming days, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is expected to discuss the matter with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

Meanwhile, diplomatic officials in Jerusalem noted that the Egyptians have been making significant efforts to seal the breached border with Gaza and curb the smuggling of weapons, drugs and people into the Strip.