EU foreign ministers to give green light to Gaza border monitoring mission

Last update - 15:00 20/11/2005


EU foreign ministers to give green light to Gaza border monitoring mission

By The Associated Press

BRUSSELS, Belgium - European Union Foreign Ministers, meeting Monday in Brussels, are expected formally to launch the bloc's first-ever police monitoring mission in the Middle East, deploying around 50 observers to watch the border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.

EU officials said a first contingent of 12 officers and experts could be deployed to the Palestinian Authority-controlled outpost by the end of this week to prepare for the official start of their mission on November 25, when the Rafah border crossing opens. In total, between 50 and 70 officers and experts will be sent.

Israelis and Palestinians agreed to the opening of the crossing during talks last week.

The EU mission is to be headed by an Italian police general, whose job will be to monitor the crossing to allay Israeli fears that the checkpoint could be used to smuggle militants or weapons into Gaza. The monitors will act as mediators between the Israelis, who will keep tabs on the border via closed-circuit television, and the Palestinians running the crossing.
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