US Suggests Peacekeepers On Gaza-Israel Border
Ryan R. Jones - All Headline News Middle East Correspondent Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - The United States Friday approached both Israel and the Palestinian Authority about deploying an international observer force at Gaza's Karni Crossing to prevent its repeated closure due to security threats. Karni is the primary crossing between Gaza and Israel, and the economic lifeline of Gaza exporters. But it has been closed for much of the past six months amid ongoing terror alerts and numerous attacks by Palestinian militants. US Security Coordinator in the West Bank and Gaza, Maj. Gen. Keith Dayton, believes the situation can be remedied by expanding the terminals at the crossing, creating a shallow buffer zone, and putting the area under the auspices of 90 international peacekeepers, according to media reports. Top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told the AP Monday that PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has already approved the measure. The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel has agreed in principle, but will not officially back the plan until Gaza-based terrorists release an abducted Israeli soldier and stop firing rockets into southern Israel.
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