Palestinians back plan for Gaza crossing monitors

Gaza: Palestinians support a US proposal to deploy international monitors at Gaza's main commercial crossing to ensure the gateway remains open, a Palestinian official said yesterday.

Israel has shut the Karni crossing with Gaza frequently this year because of what it says are threats from Palestinian militants. Most recently, Karni has been closed since August 15.

The US proposal, submitted to donors early this month and seen by Reuters, includes the deployment of 90 foreign monitors and expanding the crossing at a cost of some $19 million (about Dh70 million).

"We have asked for an international team to be present in this very important and vital crossing to make sure the crossing continues to operate in both directions," said Saeb Erekat, head of the Palestinian Crossings Authority.

He gave no further details.

Israeli officials declined to comment.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz, quoting unnamed Israeli security officials, said the proposal had been welcomed but would remain on ice until a soldier captured by Palestinian militants in late June was freed.

Israel launched an offensive in Gaza in response to the abduction of Corporal Gilad Shalit in a cross-border raid by militants from the impoverished coastal strip.

Aid groups say the closures at Karni have worsened humanitarian conditions in densely populated Gaza, home to 1.4 million people.

Israel says it is allowing goods and trucks to pass into Gaza through other crossings.

The United States brokered a deal last November that opened the way for European Union monitors to oversee the Rafah terminal in southern Gaza on the border with Egypt.

That crossing is mainly for people. It has largely been closed during Israel's two-month offensive in Gaza.