Haniyeh: We will permit joint control of Rafah crossing
Date: 27 / 06 / 2009 Time: 19:33
www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=38847

Gaza - Ma'an - Palestinian Prime Minister of the Hamas-run de facto
government in the Gaza Strip Ismail Haniyeh on Saturday said he would accept
joint control of the Rafah crossing.

In a news conference, Haniyeh said his government would be ready to accept
joint control of the Rafah crossing based on participation by the de facto
government's security, the Egyptians, the Europeans, and the Palestinian
Authority's presidential guards.

"The issue of the Rafah crossing is always part of Palestinian dialogue, and
it is also being discussed with our brothers in Egypt. We still believe
closure of the crossing point is a national and pan-Arabist wrongdoing
because words can't describe the suffering in the Gaza Strip."

Also on Saturday, the de facto prime minister admitted that impediments
still hinder the Cairo dialogue aimed at reaching an agreement between Hamas
and Fatah. However, he said he hopes an agreement will be reached on 7 July.

Haniyeh told journalists during a checkup visit at the Rafah crossing that
"major issues will remain unresolved if a session is held on Sunday, and I
hope an agreement will be signed on 7 July."

He also described the situation in the West Bank as painful to "every free
and decent person," an apparent reference to the near-constant politically
motivated arrested by the Palestinian Authority.

"Detention and pursuits are still going on, and even the PLC speaker found
the PLC headquarters closed indifferently," he said, explaining that such a
situation impedes reaching an agreement.