World Jewish News

After takeover of Gaza crossings by PA, European Union ready to support efforts to reunite Gaza and the West Bank

As the Palestinian Authority this week took control of the Gaza Strip’s Erez and Kerem Shalom border crossings with Israel and the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border as part of the reconciliation accord reached last month between the PA and Hamas, the European Union said it was ready to provide support to efforts to reunite Gaza and the West Bank.

The takeover of the border crossing from Hamas is the first step of a process that is due to give the PA full control of the Gaza Strip by December 1.

‘’The handover of Gaza crossings to the Palestinian Authority is an important step in the implementation of the agreement signed in Cairo on 12 October, and towards allowing the Palestinian Authority to resume its full responsibilities in Gaza and achieving intra-Palestinian reconciliation,’’ the EU said in a statement.

‘’The European Union reiterates its readiness to provide its full support to the efforts to reunite Gaza and the West Bank under one single and legitimate Palestinian Authority,’’ the statement added.

The EU also said it was ready to redeploy the EUBAM Rafah mission ‘’if requested by the parties and as soon as the conditions allow.’’

‘’Contacts with all relevant stakeholders on possible EU contributions are ongoing,’’ it said. .

‘’We will continue to liaise with the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Israel, and our international partners, including in the Quartet, in order to help this process to succeed, which is critical for reaching a negotiated two-state solution and sustainable peace,’’ the EU concluded.

PA Takes Over Gaza Border Crossings As Part of Palestinian Reconciliation Deal

The Coordinator of Israel’s government activities in the Territories, Major General Yoav Mordechai, has instructed the head of the Coordination and Liaison Administration to Gaza and other senior officials to hold a meeting with representatives of the Palestinian Authority in order to define joint working procedures and Israeli security requirements for the operation of the crossings.

EJP