The latest Israeli-Palestinian agreement

You might have read that the Palestinians and the Israelis have agreed on the Rafah border crossing into Egypt. Here are some comments from somebody in Israel.

1) The Rafah crossing.
The crossing is scheduled to open by November 25. Video images will be tranferred to a control center at another Gaza crossing, manned by Israeli, PA, and European personnel.

What Israel surrendered is veto power over who crosses. This means even if a terrorist is spotted on video, all that Israel has the power to do is demand that he (or she) be held for six hours, during which time theoretically a security check can be done. But it is not Israel that will make the final decision on whether this person will be allowed to pass through. I have already read a Palestinian boast that any Palestinian who wishes to cross will be able to do so.

This is not an academic exercise or a power struggle for its own sake. Israel is certain that there will be a significant movement of terrorists and weaponry through this crossing. The concern is not just what moves into Gaza, but also what moves out, into the Sinai. There have already been instances of terrorists who moved out of Gaza into the Sinai, and then across the Negev into Judea and Samaria.

Along with this part of the agreement were other elements, at least as damaging if not more so:

2. Checkpoints.
Israel promises to come up with a plan for removing more checkpoints by the end of the year.

We hear a great deal about the Palestinian need for freedom of movement and how this affects their economy. I am sure this is so.

However, we have a different need -- to not be killed. Giving "Palestinians" more freedom of movement means giving terrorists and their weaponry more freedom of movement as well. Every time we remove checkpoints, disaster ensues. Just recently, we removed a checkpoint on route 60, as a "good faith" gesture. A Palestinian car that would not have gotten through before that gesture was able to, and three beautiful young Jewish people were taken out in a drive by shooting.

According to Arutz Sheva, the Quartet (US, Russia, the EU and the UN) had hoped to see 125 checkpoints taken out in this agreement. 125 checkpoints? At the cost of how many lives?

3. Karni Crossing between Gaza and Israel.
Israel promises to allow through 150 export trucks a day by the end of the year, and 400 a day by the end of 2006. All of Gaza's agricultural produce will be allowed through.

The benefit to Palestinians is obvious. What security risk Israel has incurred here I am not able to comment on, although clearly there is one.

What was it Sharon said about DISENGAGEMENT from the Palestinians in Gaza??

4. Passage between Gaza and Judea/Samaria.
Starting Dec. 15, bus convoys carrying Palestinians will move between the two territories, traveling through Israel. Starting Jan. 15, truck convoys will also be allowed to move between the West Bank and Gaza.

This strikes me as a security horror. Buses of Palestinians from Gaza and truck convoys from Gaza traveling across Israeli territory? What is the potential for a disaster? I have as yet no information on what the safeguards will be.

5. Gaza Seaport.
The Palestinians can start building it.

The concern here is bringing in of weaponry via the sea (remember the Karine A?), and the need to monitor this tightly -- or as tightly as possible. More information required here, as well.