Palestinian- Israeli negotiation failed in opening the new secure passage
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 10/4/1999

Palestinian and Israeli negotiators have failed for the third day to find a resolution to the continuing disputes concerning the secure passage which was scheduled to be opened yesterday, although Israeli officials said that proposals for reconciling the disputes were already drafted.

Palestinian Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Nabil Amro stated that the reasons for delaying the opening of the secure passage are due completely to Israel, saying that the Sharm El-Sheikh accord refers to the importance of running the passage depending on what has been reached by the old talks regarding this subject. He added, "We had reached (in agreement) with the Israeli side much of the accord's points, and what was suspended at the time was sideline areas which can be solved in a very short time."

The Israeli side presented proposals which the Palestinians refused because the security measures Israel wants will turn this "secure passage" into an Israeli controlled passage where Palestinians will not be safe and can be captured by Israel. He said "And matters will be complicated if there isn't an Israeli initiative for coming back to the texts of the agreements which were signed with (Israel) concerning the secure passage, otherwise the matters will be still in this shape of complication."

Palestinian sources said today that the cause of the secure passage is important for the Palestinians because the crossing is a question of life and death for them, adding that the Palestinian - Israeli talks on opening the secure passage collapsed.

The Palestinians are waiting for the Israeli opinion concerning the proposal presented to it.

Israeli Radio said the negotiations achieved progress yesterday, saying that nothing remains but specifying the side which will be allowed to issue the magnetic identification cards that will provide permits to Palestinians crossing the secure passage, which will link the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Previous Stories:
  Opening of secure passage between Gaza and Hebron on Sunday   (9/30/1999)
  Palestinian - Israeli judiciary talks in an unprecedented meeting   (9/6/1999)
  Differences between Wye and Sharm el-Sheikh agreements   (9/6/1999)
  Israelis, Palestinians agree on safe passage, port Building   (8/25/1999)

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