Israel eases WB, Gaza closure as truce in the making
AFP, Gaza City
Israel on Sunday eased its closure of the Palestinian territories three days ahead of a US-convened peace summit and amid expectations the two sides could declare a long-sought truce. The army relaxed its blockade of the West Bank and Gaza Strip overnight, as part of a package of measures to ease the hardships on the Palestinians. Meanwhile, Palestinian prime minister Mahmud Abbas was to leave the West Bank town of Ramallah for Jordan to prepare for Wednesday's summit in the Red Sea resort of Aqaba, his office said. "The complete closure has been lifted from midnight (2100 GMT)", an Israeli military spokesman said. Israel has also announced a phased handover of security control in Gaza and West Bank towns to the Palestinians, following "positive" talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Abbas last Thursday. The closure of the territories, effectively imposed two months after the Intifada broke out in late September 2000, has left the Palestinian economy in tatters. It has prevented Palestinian laborers from reaching jobs in Israel and hampered trade flow with the Jewish state and the rest of the world. Palestinian security sources said 4,500 men aged 28 and above were allowed to cross into Israel from the Gaza Strip on Sunday, compared with an average of 30,000 before the Intifada. Figures for the West Bank were not immediately available. The sources also said a security outpost and custom office were destroyed by the army early Sunday in the northern Strip, while the town of Beit Hanoun, likewise north of Gaza City, was still occupied by Israeli forces. A leading Israeli newspaper said both Israel and the Palestinians could declare a ceasefire Wednesday at the Aqaba peace summit for an initial period of three weeks. "The important announcement to come out of the summit should be that of a comprehensive ceasefire initially lasting around three weeks," wrote Maariv. After the three-week period, Israel will demand that Palestinian security forces move to prevent anti-Israeli attacks by arresting militants, according to the newspaper. "We are going through critical days and if the ceasefire holds, it could be the end of the Intifada," or uprising against the Israeli occupation, wrote the paper, quoting Israeli defense officials. Abbas's cabinet has said talks with radical groups to obtain a truce are "ongoing" and an answer is expected in the coming days.
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