Israel proposes safe passage between West Bank and Gaza Strip to be included in territorial exchange

23 August 2007

Bethlehem – Ma'an – Israel has proposed that safe passage for Palestinians from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip would be included in a territorial exchange with the Palestinians, the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz reported on Thursday.

The proposal has been mooted as part of the agreement of principles which is being drafted before the Middle East peace conference in the Autumn.

It is understood that Israel will have sovereignty over the route but the Palestinians will control it.

But the route will only come into being if the Palestinian Authority, under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas, resumes control over the Gaza Strip, Ha'aretz said.

According to Ha'aretz the proposal would be beneficial to Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad - the promise of renewed links between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are likely to win them support in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

However, the agreement of principles will not demarcate the specific areas which are to be handed back to the Palestinians in exchange for the land taken by Israeli settlements.