EU: We won't protect Israel at Gaza post

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By Ryan Jones
November 07, 2005

Days after Israel surprised many by offering the European Union a security role along the Gaza-Sinai border, European officials Sunday rejected an Israeli proposal that they pro-actively protect that border against arms smugglers.

A European delegation met separately with Israeli and Palestinian Authority officials to hear the two sides' ideas on the role the EU should play in southern Gaza.

They reportedly balked at an Israeli proposal that EU officers actually arrest individuals caught attempting to smuggle illegal weapons into the volatile strip.

?Obviously what we will not be doing is taking the place of the Palestinian customs and security officials. In the end the Palestinian Authority will be in charge of its borders,? EU envoy Marc Otte told Reuters.

Meanwhile, the PA continued to reject Israel's demand that it be allowed to monitor the Rafah Crossing linking Gaza to Egypt via live video feed.

The ?Palestinians? instead want to provide Israel with information from the crossing once a day, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Despite the differences, PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas told reporters in Ramallah Sunday that the ?final touches? were being put on the border agreement, and that the Rafah Crossing should be open within days.

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