Rice pushing for deal on Gaza-Egypt border

Nov 15, 2005, 9:13 GMT

Jerusalem - United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz Tuesday morning to discuss the final details of a security arrangement that would allow the reopening of the Gaza Strip's main border crossing to the outside world.

Rice cancelled a trip to South Korea and postponed her departure from the region to push both sides to accept a compromise on the Gaza-Egypt border terminal of Rafah and put her political weight behind mediation by international envoy James Wolfensohn, Israel Radio reported.

Both sides have agreed to a European Union presence at the border, but argued about the extent of Israeli control over incoming goods and people.

Wolfensohn had earlier expressed irritation at the sides inability to bridge their gaps and accused Israel of acting almost as if it had not withdrawn from the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli pullout was completed in September and ended 38 years of occupation of the Strip.

Free movement through Rafah is of major importance to the Palestinians, who have complained that without it the Gaza Strip would be a 'big prison', while for Israel security is a top priority. It fears weapons smuggling and infiltration by militants, including operatives of al-Qaeda, which could escalate the conflict.