Qurei' rules out desolving al-Aqsa groups; Israel re-opens Beit Hanoun crossing partially

Israel on Sunday re-opened Beit Hanoun cossing ( Erez) which separates it from Gaza, partially. A mater which enabled some 381 Palestinian workers to cross to work in Israel.

A spokesman for the directorate of the Palestinian general security in Gaza said that workers -- who are above 35 year old -- crossed the barrier of Beit Hanoun for the first time since several months after they were exposed to oppressive inspection practices. He added that 20,000 workers were used to head for work daily before the crossing was blocked two months before. The spokesman indicated that only 54 traders from Gaza were also able to enter Israel.

At the political level, the Palestinian prime minister Ahmad Qurei' ruled out in statements issued yesterday any move towards desolving al-Aqsa groups, the military wing of the Fatah movement, despite his efforts aiming at halting the attacks against Israel.

This was expressed during a meeting he held in Ramullah with an American delegation led by the former US envoy to the Middle East Dennis Ross. The American delegate stressed following the meeting that he will not meet with the Palestinian President but with Palestinian figures that contribute -- according to him -- to establishing peace in addition to Israeli figures.