Office of the Special Envoy for Disengagement - March 9, 2006 - Back to Resources Page

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The Quartet Special Envoy's Office is submitting the eighth bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November Agreement on Movement and Access, covering the period 18 February to 3 March 2006 inclusive.

• Rafah was open daily during the reporting period with standard opening hours of 9 hours a day. No export of goods via Rafah took place in the reporting period.

• Karni was open for three days only during the reporting period. On 22 February, Karni was closed by the IDF in response to an explosion near the crossing in the evening of 21 February. It was reopened on 9 March for imports into Gaza. According to USAID contractors, revenue losses in the agricultural sector in Gaza during this peak in the season are estimated at around US$ 450 thousand per day, and cumulative revenue losses from 22 February to 5 March are estimated to exceed US$ 4.4 million.

• Erez was open daily for Palestinians. The average daily number of workers and traders crossing into Israel via Erez was 2955 in the reporting period, which is a slight increase by 30 compared with the previous reporting period.

• The deadline for the introduction of truck convoys between Gaza and the West Bank by 15 January passed without being met. Discussions of bus convoys have not yet resumed.

• According to OCHA the number of obstacles to movement in the West Bank rose from 484 to 487. Several times a year, OCHA compiles a comprehensive count of physical obstacles to Palestinian movement in the West Bank. The figures reported here are based on OCHA field observations only.

• The GoI has not provided the assurance to donors that it will not interfere with the operation of the seaport.

• There have been no discussions on the airport during the reporting period.

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Office of the Special Envoy for Disengagement - March 9, 2006 - Back to Resources Page