Israel open to EU policing role on Gaza border

[tocqueville]

By Mark Heinrich
Mon Sep 19, 1:06 PM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel has agreed in principle to a European Union role in policing Gaza's volatile border crossing with Egypt, Israeli officials said on Monday, a turnabout after years of opposition to an EU security mission.

The deal would go beyond EU monitoring already discussed. Israel has long been reluctant to allow outside involvement in its conflict with the Palestinians, perceiving Europe, and indeed the world except its U.S. ally, as pro-Palestinian.

Securing the border took on more urgency when controls collapsed after Israel's pullout last week after 38 years of occupation. Tens of thousands of Palestinians swarmed into Egypt -- most to visit relatives or shop, but some to smuggle arms.

An EU presence would help resolve a dispute over Israel's demand to retain some control over crossings via the Rafah terminal, rejected by Palestinians as tantamount to continued occupation. Rafah has been shut because of the stand-off.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050919/wl_nm/mideast_border_eu_dc