Mideast envoy urges deal on Gaza
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-14 09:02

Speaking at the same event, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called on the Palestinians not to waste the opportunity created by the Gaza withdrawal.

He said the Palestinian Authority "has to decide whether it chooses the path of dialogue and peace or if it chooses the path of extremist terrorism and allows terror groups to exist and participate in the political process before disarming."

Israel is adamantly opposed to participation by the militant group Hamas in upcoming Palestinian parliamentary elections.

An official close to Wolfensohn, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media, said the two sides have made significant progress on opening the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border, Gaza's main link to the outside world. He said the sides were further apart on reopening Karni, but a deal was reachable within 48 hours. Wolfensohn leaves the Middle East on Wednesday.

Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, who was participating in Sunday's talks with Palestinian Cabinet minister Mohammed Dahlan, said Israel was working to open the Rafah terminal "as soon as possible."

An Israeli Arab truck driver loads cargo at the Karni crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip, southern Israel , Wednesday Nov. 9, 2005. Dozens of trucks lined up on both sides of this Gaza-Israel crossing, inching forward over a period of hours to deliver their cargo: Gaza-made wooden chairs and Mediterranean shrimps for Israel, and Israeli milk and cement for the coastal strip. [AP]

The international community wants a deal sealed well before the Jan. 25 Palestinian parliamentary election to boost moderate Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who is fighting off a challenge by Hamas.

Abbas has promised not to reopen the Rafah crossing without Israeli approval, but his government has been pushing to get the key crossing opened earlier.

Talks between the two sides have faltered over Israel's demand to monitor the Rafah terminal via closed-circuit TV. The Palestinians say European monitors to be stationed there should suffice to stop militants and weapons smugglers.

Meanwhile, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., said Sunday in Jerusalem that she supports the 425-mile separation barrier Israel is building along the edges of the West Bank, and that the onus is on the Palestinian Authority to fight terrorism.

"This is not against the Palestinian people," Clinton said while touring a section of the barrier. "This is against the terrorists. The Palestinian people have to help to prevent terrorism."

Israel says the structure is needed to keep suicide bombers from entering the country. Palestinians say it has prevented thousands of people from reaching their jobs, schools and farmland.

Violence also flared late Saturday as Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian militant in the West Bank town of Jenin, the Israeli military said. Army officials said the troops believed the militant was going to open fire on a nearby military post.