Seeking Egypt's support
Egypt and Israel reached an agreement to open the Rafah terminal. Palestinians will now be alllowed to pass through the terminal which will eventually be operated by Egypt and the Palestinian Authority. A third party, probably the European Union, may join the endeavour.
The deal was finalised yesterday during talks held in Cairo between President Hosni Mubarak and Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz who was on a visit of just a few hours tailored to address the issue.
Commodities, it was agreed during the Mubarak- Mofaz talks, will be transported from and into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom terminal.
Cairo notified the Palestinian Authority of the details of the deal.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had discussed this and other matters related to the operation of Gaza during talks he held in Cairo with President Mubarak and Arab League Secretary- General Amr Moussa.
Abbas stopped over in Cairo on his way to the Palestinian territories following talks with US President George W Bush in Washington on Thursday.
Before leaving Cairo on Monday, Abbas told reporters he had asked senior officials in Cairo and at the Arab organisation to ramp up their support for the Palestinian Authority, and to press the international community on providing the Palestinians with adequate financial aid and political support necessary for development and stability in Gaza.
In his talks with Mubarak, Abu Mazen reviewed Cairo's preparations for upcoming inter-Palestinian talks expected to take place within the coming few weeks to re-negotiate the terms of the truce to which the resistance movements Hamas and Jihad have committed themselves since February. The Palestinian and Egyptian leaders also discussed preparations for, and prospects of, the upcoming Palestinian legislative elections.
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online : Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/766/eg10.htm