Office of the Special Envoy for Disengagement - July 25, 2006 - Back to Resources Page

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1 August 2006

The United Nations¹ is submitting the 18th bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA), covering the period 12 – 25 July 2006 inclusive.²

• The Rafah crossing has remained closed since 25 June for regular movement. However, on 18 and 19 July following an agreement reached between the Government of Israel (GoI) andPalestinian Authority (PA) mediated by EU BAM, Rafah opened for two days to allow the passage of 5,178 passengers who had been trapped on the Egyptian side of the crossing. There is no indication as to when the crossing will reopen and no persons have been able to exit the Gaza Strip since 25 June.

• The Karni crossing was closed for two days during the reporting period (21 and 23 July). Karni was open for imports on all other scheduled working days although actual operating times varied between three and nine hours per day. No exported goods have crossed through Karni since 23 June.

• The Erez crossing remains closed for Palestinian workers and traders since 12 March. Since 25 June, only critical Palestinian humanitarian cases (with prior coordination with the Israeli DCL) were permitted to cross. There was an attack by Palestinian militants on an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) observation post at Erez on 23 July and since this time Erez has been frequently closed, including for diplomats and humanitarian workers.

• The Kerem Shalom crossing has remained closed since 25 June, following an attack by Palestinian militants on an IDF observation post.

• The Sufa crossing has remained closed since 21 June, due to a reported security alert by the IDF.

• The deadline for the introduction of truck convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank as agreed in the AMA, passed on 15 January. Discussions about the possibility of bus convoys have not resumed.

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

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

• According to OCHA, the number of obstacles to movement in the West Bank increased from 536 to 540. OCHA compiles several times a year comprehensive count of physical obstacles to Palestinian movement in the West Bank. The figures reported here are based on OCHA field observations only.

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1 The Office of the Quartet’s Special Envoy closed on 28 April. The United Nations has assumed reporting responsibilities on the implementation of the AMA.
2 The report draws on all available data sources for reporting including the EU, UN agencies, PA ministries, PalTrade, COGAT and the World Bank.

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Office of the Special Envoy for Disengagement - July 25, 2006 - Back to Resources Page