- Title: WEST BANK: Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad calls for opening Gaza borders
- Date: 11th June 2010
- Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (JUNE 10, 2010) (REUTERS) PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER SALAM FAYYAD TALKING TO REPORTER PALESTINIAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER, SALAM FAYYAD, SAYING: "While we most definitely would want to see a comprehensive reopening and lifting of the siege, if that is looked at in isolation from other things that need to happen, wouldn't that I ask lead to a situation where Gaza de facto over time, others things equal, if nothing else is done, will end up being more and more a stand alone entity and that is extremely dangerous from a political point of view given our objective of ending the Israeli occupation and having a state of palestine emerge from the territories occupied in 1967." REPORTER TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (English) PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER, SALAM FAYYAD, SAYING: "Safe passage has got to be part of the structure of the state of palestine in accordance with the two-state solution concept which is a matter of universal acceptance and acceptability." PICTURE FRAME OF FAYYAD AND HIS FAMILY FAYYAD TALKING TO REPORTER
- Embargoed: 26th June 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA9NWHY0UPSN6UEJD85DML0M16B
- Story Text: Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Thursday (June 10) called for Gaza's borders to be opened in line with a 2005 agreement that would restore a role for his West Bank-based administration in managing the crossings.
Fayyad told Reuters that opening the crossings in line with the 2005 agreement would help reunify the West Bank and Gaza -- territories that have been ruled by separate governments since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007.
A wave of international pressure on Israel to ease the blockade should push in that direction, Fayyad said, warning against other ideas that would deepen the division and result in Gaza becoming "more and more a stand alone entity".
He was referring to a suggestions that Israel, which has imposed the blockade for four years to weaken Hamas, could allow ships to dock in Gaza after inspection but seal its land crossings.
"While we most definitely would want to see a comprehensive reopening and lifting of the siege, if that is looked at in isolation from other things that need to happen, wouldn't that I ask lead to a situation where Gaza de facto over time, others things equal, if nothing else is done, will end up being more and more a stand alone entity and that is extremely dangerous from a political point of view given our objective of ending the Israeli occupation and having a state of palestine emerge from the territories occupied in 1967," Fayyad said.
International pressure on Israel to ease the embargo has grown since last week when its navy intercepted a Turkish aid ship trying to run the blockade and killed nine Turks in the process. The Israeli army says the commandos were acting in self defence after being attacked by the Turks.
The violence has thrown the blockade into the international spotlight, triggering a wave of pressure on Israel by its Western allies for it to be lifted. Even the United States, Israel's closest ally, has said the blockade is unsustainable.
U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday called for a "new conceptual framework" to the embargo.
Fayyad said that should focus on reactivating the 2005 agreement which was brokered by the United States and the European Union after Israel pulled its settlers and soldiers from the Gaza Strip.
It also provided for passage of goods and people between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Opening the seaport, the airport and passage between the territories would need preparation, he said.
But land crossings could be opened immediately, he said.
A restoration of the arrangements would result in Palestinian Authority forces going into Gaza to manage the crossings.
Asked whether Hamas, which has built a police force of 13,000, would accept, Fayyad said that there is no reason to believe otherwise.
Freedom of movement between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank was essential, Fayyad added.
"Safe passage has got to be part of the structure of the state of palestine in accordance with the two-state solution concept which is a matter of universal acceptance and acceptability," he said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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