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Defense Minister Ehud Barak. (David Boimovich / Jini)
Last update - 21:50 01/04/2008
Barak: Gaza crossings may open if rocket attacks, smuggling stop
By Barak Ravid and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondents, and News Agencies
Tags: Ehud Barak, Israel 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said he would consider reopening Gaza's border crossings if violence from the territory ceases, but defense officials warned Tuesday that such a move is a long way off.

The change, made at the request of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, is considered a major shift in Israel's policy on this matter.

Rice and Barak discussed the crossings and the general situation in Gaza during a meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday, and again at a tripartite meeting that included Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
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The U.S. Secretary of State repeated her request that the defense establishment soften its stance on the border crossings and look favorably on Fayyad's proposal to transfer control of them to PA government officials. Rice also asked Barak to issue a public statement on this matter.

The defense minister agreed, and following a meeting with the visiting Czech defense minister Monday, his office issued its statement. The statement was unusual in itself, because until now, Barak has avoided public statements about the crossings in general and the Fayyad proposal in particular.

In an announcement, Barak set several conditions that must be met before
restrictions at the borders would be relieved.

"When conditions have matured in the future for an end to the rockets, the terror and the reduction of the weapons' smuggling, we will be willing to consider easements in the Gaza crossings through cooperation with representatives of Fayyad's government," Barak said.

Defense officials said Israel would not be fully opening the crossings in the near future since the violence has persisted. They said Barak's statement was aimed at bolstering the moderate Palestinian government of President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank.

Barak has previously opposed opening Gaza's borders since the Hamas militant group, which often fires rockets into southern Israel, seized control of the area last June.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Tuesday that the cease-fire contacts, which involve talks on the Gaza crossings, were ongoing between Fayyad's administration, Israel and Hamas.

Erekat stated that the efforts to work out a deal were complicated. Erekat said he wasn't sure Barak's statement was serious. "Announcements are one thing and action and deeds are another thing," Erekat said.

The officials said Rice pressed Barak during a visit this week to consider easing Israel's blockade of Gaza, which has caused widespread economic hardship in the territory of 1.4 million Palestinians.

Abbas, who wants to reassert his authority in Gaza, has offered to have his forces man Gaza's border crossings to help ease the humanitarian situation while preventing direct contact between Israel and Hamas.

A senior Israeli government source said that the change in Barak's position is probably also related to the discussions that Amos Gilad, head of the Defense Ministry's political-security bureau, is holding in Egypt on a "package deal" that would include a halt to rocket attacks from Gaza, containment of the arms smuggling into Gaza and reopening the border crossings.

Fayyad has been promoting his proposal for opening the Gaza crossings for several months, and has received broad support from the international community, especially the United States. According to his proposal, PA officials who are affiliated with neither Hamas nor Fatah would assume responsibility for the crossings and reopen them for use, possibly with international assistance.

Opening the crossings to regular transfers of goods would improve the lot of the civilians in Gaza. In addition, Fayyad's proposal would enable the PA to gradually return to the Strip, for the first time since it lost control of it to Hamas in June last year.

But despite American and PA requests, the defense establishment adopted a tough stance toward the Fayyad proposal, arguing that it would ultimately serve to bolster Hamas. Thus Barak's statement Monday is considered to be a significant reversal in Israeli policy on this matter, and most likely stemmed from U.S. pressure.

Meanwhile, Abbas announced Monday that he intends to meet Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on April 7, thereby ending the hiatus in their regular biweekly meetings that followed the intense fighting in the Gaza Strip nearly six weeks ago.

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      1.   the Egyptian "Package Deal" & the PA`s "Gradual" Gaza Return 02:28  |  David P 01/04/08
      2.   Another really Stupid Idea Brought to You By Barak & Olmert 06:56  |  Shepherd 01/04/08
      3.   rice 07:59  |  robert 01/04/08
      4.   All the verbiage 08:14  |  Esther 01/04/08
      5.   Our unquestionable rights on the Land of Israel. 09:00  |  Jean Van Daem 01/04/08
      6.   Once again, Rice serves up a dish of crow to Barak 09:05  |  Natallie Durson 01/04/08
      7.   "When conditions have matured in the future ... " 09:30  |  redmike 01/04/08
      8.   Don`t worry, Zionists 09:39  |  Clickfool 01/04/08
      9.   Let your enemies guard your gates 10:23  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 01/04/08
      10.   more pie in the sky all around ! it must be all fools day 10:29  |  v hardman 01/04/08
      11.   Israel is going to accept pal "return" as well,anihilating itself 10:50  |  Absolute Sweden 01/04/08
      12.   Barak is soft in the head alright 10:51  |  Rami 01/04/08
      13.   Now hear this 11:16  |  Wise Owl 01/04/08
      14.   Rice is being played for a fool. 11:20  |  Michael 01/04/08
      15.   Funniest thing I have read in a while 11:26  |  Johnboy 01/04/08
      16.   4# Jean Van Daem. Israel is giving away its rights 11:31  |  Akram Zekaria 01/04/08
      17.   want concessions call Rice 11:36  |  sabra 01/04/08
      18.   #14 michael would make sense if he knew any history so 12:01  |  v hardman 01/04/08
      19.   Clickfool..What me Worry?? YES! 12:31  |  Meir Gush Etzion 01/04/08
      20.   WHAT A RAT 12:34  |  indrajaya 01/04/08
      21.   Does not matter. Security will prevail. Do come visit again sushi 12:38  |  Seasoned Observer 01/04/08
      22.   RICE PUSHING ANTI-ISRAEL AGENDA OF STATE DEPT ARABISTS 12:43  |  G.Marcus 01/04/08
      23.   ONLY SOLUTION: GAZA UNDER EGYPT; PARTS OF W.BANK LINKED TO JORDAN 12:49  |  G.Marcus 01/04/08
      24.   England - the most anti-Semitic country in Europe !? 13:05  |  redmike 01/04/08
      25.   Redmike 24 - you clearly don`t know anything about the UK. 13:39  |  Michael 01/04/08
      26.   22 G Markus - Basics of US Government 14:12  |  Mark of Lewiston 01/04/08
      27.   Rice is worst thing to happen to the US....architect of Iraq poli 14:37  |  r 01/04/08
      28.   Lies, lies, lies; Barak is a born liar. 15:13  |  Chanalau, Tova 01/04/08
      29.   It`s Hard to Believe 15:23  |  tinashkuli 01/04/08
      30.   Why do israelis say... 15:27  |  Punk Rock Tsar 01/04/08
      31.   Barak 15:34  |  Chayim 01/04/08
      32.   Mark of Lewiston # 26 The U.S. Department of State 15:38  |  Jeff Northridge 01/04/08
      33.   A flaw in your logic, Redmike # 24 15:43  |  Clickfool 01/04/08
      34.   Rice the puppetmaster, Barak the puppet 15:57  |  Walter 01/04/08
      35.   Olmert, livni, Barak killing Israel! 16:00  |  de Jong 01/04/08
      36.   to Meir Gush 16:44  |  hollingsworth 01/04/08
      37.   Margie in Tel aviv 16:59  |  GABE1 01/04/08
      38.   #25 michael doesnt know anewspaper from a hole in the ground 17:01  |  v hardman 01/04/08
      39.   To Clickfool - # 33 17:04  |  Zionist 01/04/08
      40.   Punk Rock Tzar # 30 Clear As Mud 17:05  |  Jeff Northridge 01/04/08
      41.   #33 more from boris the clucking fool and amnesia 17:41  |  v hardman 01/04/08
      42.   To Arabs: 17:44  |  John 01/04/08
      43.   38 Victor doesn`t know his Paul from his Harris 18:03  |  Michael 01/04/08
      44.   Danger sign: The reasons change, the policy remains 18:08  |  Tosefta 01/04/08
      45.   #30 punk instead of penning a post about which you clearly know 18:14  |  v hardman 01/04/08
      46.   For Zionist # 39 18:43  |  Clickfool 01/04/08
      47.   The guy is totally non-commital... 19:23  |  Esther 01/04/08
      48.   # 34, WALTER 19:37  |  indrajaya 01/04/08
      49.   III. Judge Jeff, the Legal Eagle: Reading Comprehension(Punk RT) 19:40  |  Tosefta (re #40) 01/04/08
      50.   IV. Judge Jeff, the Legal Eagle: Gaza upside-down (Punk RT #40) 19:41  |  Tosefta 01/04/08
      51.   Controlling borders 19:43  |  Jackie 01/04/08
      52.   For Clickfool#46 19:45  |  Edifice 01/04/08
      53.   Indrajaya 20:04  |  Walter 01/04/08
      54.   #46 Clikfool and Proud of it! They gave out Candies aT 9/11 20:07  |  ROBERT/MONTREAL 01/04/08
      55.   Barak`s offer is the best ever 20:29  |  Adrian de Klerk 01/04/08
      56.   Barak "would consider" opening the crossings 20:35  |  Guido 01/04/08
      57.   Jackie #51 Canada has beefed up its border true. 20:41  |  Robert/Montreal 01/04/08
      58.   #49 So then THe Palis are using this article for Shalit? 20:51  |  Robert/Montreal 01/04/08
      59.   Tosefta # 49 & 50 The Gaza Strip Is Not Occupied (part 1) 21:05  |  Jeff Northridge 01/04/08
      60.   V.1 Judge Jeff, the Legal Eagle: Gaza released from Occupation#59 21:32  |  Tosefta 01/04/08
      61.   V.2 Judge Jeff, the Legal Eagle: Gaza released from Occupation#59 21:33  |  Tosefta 01/04/08
      62.   Intransigent 21:58  |  Jim 01/04/08
      63.   Tosefta # 49 & 50 The Gaza Strip Is Not Occupied (part 2) 22:04  |  Jeff Northridge 01/04/08
      64.   very vague indeed 22:10  |  RM 01/04/08
      65.   Israel you got who you voted for period 22:20  |  Chelm Registrar 01/04/08
      66.   How about Olmert suggesting to Rice to remove some US checkpoints 22:26  |  Rachel 01/04/08
      67.   #43 michael at a guessing game 23:01  |  v hardman 01/04/08
      68.   #19 Meir Gush Etzion 23:04  |  Jim 01/04/08
      69.   #26 Mark of Lewsiton 23:31  |  Jim