Solana: the Rafah crossing point reopened by the end of February?

(BRUSSELS2) When Javier Solana, the High Representative for Foreign Policy of the European Union, speaks about the post-election period in the United States, it is to be expected that a large part of his intervention will be devoted to Gaza. Especially when the EU's chief diplomat has just returned from a three-day trip to the region where he met the newly appointed US special envoy, G. Mitchell. This intervention (*) seemed interesting to me on two essential points: access to humanitarian aid, which still remains fragmented, and the inter-Palestinian negotiations and with Israel for which Solana seems to have good hopes, since he even permitted to give a fairly precise timetable.

The hope of Javier Solana

The High Representative expressed his hope that the parties would agree on "a real ceasefire that can last more than a year". The negotiation led by the Egyptian government (supported by the Europeans) has a double effect. First between the various "Palestinian factions" (in other words the Palestinian authority and Hamas), and in parallel on a ceasefire agreement -permanent fire with Israel. In order to reach an agreement on the "full reopening of crossing points", then"to begin reconciliation". Javier Solana hopes for a "permanent ceasefire around February 4-5 and an inter-Palestinian agreement around February 24-25". If these objectives are met, the "Rafah crossing point could be reopened, where the European mission Eubam will be present. The European Union supports a government of "consensus" or "technicians", as proposed by the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Abbas at the Kuwait conference. "It is important to speak of two States and not of three", he added.

Humanitarian aid only comes in a trickle

Javier Solana, however, pointed to a fundamental problem: "The crossing points (between Israel and Gaza) are not fully open. Only 150 trucks pass each day, loaded with 15 to 20 types of humanitarian aid items. (...) Which is too high a level. reduced."he explained. And to specify: "Two steps are to be taken in a very short time: firstly, to increase the number of humanitarian aid items and go beyond the basics, and, secondly, to increase the number of trucks up to 600 Without this, the volume of humanitarian aid will not be sufficient." "The second issue, after humanitarian aid, is reconstruction aid - he added - how this can be done on the ground and who will be responsible for distributing the money and leading the reconstruction process?" A crucial point far from being resolved, according to officials in charge of the file at the European Commission.

Daily problems in Gaza

In an adjoining room, just before, two Commission officials, one from the External Relations DG (Relex), the other from the European Humanitarian Aid Office (Echo), were indeed detailing to MEPs of the Defense subcommittee of the European Parliament the practical difficulties with which they find themselves confronted every day: "Israel has restricted cash inflows except for those needed to pay UNWRA staff. Which is not enough. Our aid will be seriously affected because we cannot even make transfers through Pegase. And thus restart the economy"explained Leonidas Tzedapidis (DG Relex).

Among the problems, added Jean-Claude Heyraud (DG Echo), there is "the water supply. Already before this conflict, it was compromised by the absence of spare parts and the possibilities of repair. But today, the problem is crucial. Israel does not want to bring in pipes needed to repair the pipes for fear that they will be used for other purposes" (to make launchers). "It is necessary to reopen circulation for humanitarian and commercial goods And that other crossing points than Rafah are open (**). We cannot return to the previous status quo situation.“, concludes Tzedapidis.

(*) Javier Solana spoke at a conference organized on Thursday morning by the European People's Party (EPP) and devoted to "EU-US cooperation after the election of Obama".

(**) Important clarification: the Rafah point is only open to the transit of people, a specialist in this matter told me. Heavy transit - goods and trucks (humanitarian or commercial) - is only possible under the 2005 agreement at crossing points manned by Israel.

(NGV)

(article published in Europolitics. Photo: Javier Solana and Jonathan Evans, British Conservative MEP, President of the EU-USA delegation to the European Parliament" © PPE-DE)