Fayyad Wants Gaza Opened in Line With 2005 Deal

Tom Perry (Reuters)

June 15, 2010

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad called on Thursday for Gaza’s borders to be opened in line with an agreement that would restore a role for his West Bank-based government in managing the crossings. Fayyad told Reuters in an interview that opening the crossings in accordance with the 2005 agreement would help reunify the West Bank and Gaza—which have been ruled by separate governments since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007.

“Reopening the crossings actually creates a much better environment for reuniting the country and the Palestinian institutions with it,” said Fayyad, who has not visited the coastal territory for more than three years.

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