The palestinians are refusing an Israeli alternative to the closed Karni crossing. The crossing has been closed for weeks due to terrorist attacks. But the world will raise the pressure on Israel to reopen Karni, and exert no pressure on the PA to use an alternate crossing. Watch and wait.
The Palestinian Authority has rejected an Israeli offer to use the Kerem Shalom crossing in the southern Gaza Strip for the passage of goods while the Karni crossing is closed, because of fear that a temporary arrangement might continue indefinitely.
“We are worried that this will become permanent,” chief PA Negotiator Saeb Erekat, told The Jerusalem Post Tuesday. “I really urge the Israelis to stick to the agreement.”
In November, a deal was brokered by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice whereby the Karni crossing was to remain open, to allow Palestinian exports from Gaza – such as greenhouse produce – to make it to the Israeli and international markets. Karni was only to be closed by Israel in the event of an immediate security threat.
The Karni crossing was closed for three weeks in January after a series of attempted attacks by Palestinian terrorists nearby. It was shut down again in mid-February following an explosion that Israeli security officials believed was a terror-related “work accident” caused when a tunnel mined with explosives blew up prematurely.
Israeli officials said PA security officials failed to address the situation, forcing Israel to close down the crossing until the threat is lifted.
Of course, the other reason that the PA refuses to use a different crossing: They haven’t got any tunnels dug under Kerem Shalom.
So, essentially, they’d rather starve their people to make Israel look bad than let their people sell their good through a different entrance into Israel. Yep. That’s the PLO leadership for you. True humanitarians.