Israel Wants EU To Secure Gaza Border
 
"The EU has been set a major foreign policy challenge following a request by the Israeli government to monitor the Egyptian-Gaza border, with EU officials to have real enforcement capacities."

"The Israeli inner cabinet, a circle of the most senior ministers, on Tuesday (1 November) voted to call upon EU inspectors to be engaged in monitoring the Rafah crossing between the Gaza strip and Egypt."

"Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom said, according to Israeli daily Haaretz, "Our objective is for the Europeans to have enforcement capabilities in the field, and not just a symbolic presence"."
 
FULL ARTICLE at
http://euobserver.com/9/20232
 
Gov't OKs EU Monitoring Rafah Crossing
 
"The security cabinet approved the placement of an EU contingent at the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt on Tuesday, but the role envisioned for this force caught some EU officials by surprise. "
"Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met with visiting Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini after the approval and said the force should have "real powers," not just supervisory ones."

FULL ARTICLE at
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1129540642600&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
 

Ministers Approve Plan For EU To Inspect Rafah Border Traffic
 
"Top cabinet ministers approved Tuesday a plan calling for European Union officials to inspect travelers entering the Gaza Strip from Egypt through the Rafah border crossing.
 
"The cabinet decided that Israel wants the Europeans to have greater authority than observers and be able to intervene in dangerous security situations, while the Palestinians want more limited authority for the EU.
Israel is also demanding that it receive information in real time from the border control authorities via cameras filming those who use the Rafah crossing, to which the Palestinians object. Nonetheless, Israel would not have control over who crosses the border."

"The Palestinians rejected the cabinet decision on Tuesday, but Israeli security officials said Israel may reopen the Rafah crossing earlier than the target date, which isn't for another six months, in an effort to strengthen Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas."

FULL ARTICLE at
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/640488.html