Nazif: Egypt maintains support for Palestinian Authority
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 9/21/2005

Egypt's Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif said Egypt would maintain support for the Palestinian Authority so that it may achieve economic development and stability.

He said that Egypt will take part in the development of Palestinian infrastructure with the aim of providing job opportunities for the Palestinians and improving their living standards, following the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

This came at the ministerial meeting held by the Prime Minister Monday in presence of the ministers of Defense, Finances, Planning, Foreign Trade, Industry and Minister Omar Suleiman.

The meeting reviewed the Egyptian-Palestinian relations and ways of enhancing relations with the Palestinian Authority following the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and coordination with the PA for maintaining stability and comprehensive development in Gaza.

Following the meeting, Magdy Radi, the Cabinet spokesman said that the meeting reviewed the arrangements in the post-Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and coordination with the Palestinian side on regulating transit through crossings on borders between Egypt and the Palestinian territories.

He said that the meeting reviewed ways of fulfilling the Palestinian demands of technical assistance in the field of training Palestinian cadres in customs and expanding the Egyptian participation in implementing infrastructure in Gaza. Latest reports indicate that the Egyptian authorities have started to confront accumulation of nearly 200,000 Palestinians in northern Sinai cities.

Frontiers between Egypt and Palestinian territories have been closed and transit will be organized through measures which were approved by both Egypt and the Palestinian Authority.

Al-Ahram learnt that security services are currently launching large scale campaign in the cities where large numbers of Palestinians are accommodated, adding that any Palestinian who is proved to be residing in Egypt illegally would be deported. Check points have been established on all roads among northern Sinai cities to prevent the entry of Palestinians, without official agreements. Latest reports uncovered contradiction of statements on operating Rafah crossing. Major General Gamal Kayed, the commander of Palestinian national security troops in south Gaza said that the crossing would be operated Wednesday after it had been supplied with electricity and water.

Palestinian Minister of Communications, Sabry Saydoum, said that the operation of the crossing requires a political decision adding that one can not now speak about its operation.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt closes border as Palestinians flock back to Gaza   (9/15/2005)
  Egyptian troops start deployment on frontiers with Gaza   (9/12/2005)
  Egyptian forces will deploy between Israel, the Palestinians   (9/1/2005)

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