Palestine asks Israel to open Gaza airport

Palestinian authorities asked Israel to allow president Yasser Arafat's plane to land in al-Dehniah airport near Gaza starting Thursday, the Israeli radio said Tuesday. Israel approved the request in principle, but advisors of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are still studying it, according to the source.

Director general of the Palestinian civil aviation authority said Sunday Al-dehniah airport would be officially opened before the middle of November and Arafat's plane would be the first jet to land on its runway.