Palestinians open Egypt-Gaza border

RAFAH, Gaza Strip -- With cheers from onlookers and the symbolic snipping of a ribbon, the Palestinian Authority yesterday assumed control for the first time over an international frontier between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.

The formal inauguration of the refurbished Rafah crossing, which is to open to travelers today, was welcomed by Palestinians for serving not only as a crucial link to the outside world but also as an emblem of statehood aspirations.

Under a deal brokered by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last week during a visit to the region, the border terminal is to operate under the oversight of European monitors. Securing the approval of Israeli officials was something of a diplomatic feat because they have long been resistant to the presence of outside observers in the Palestinian territories.

The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, looking ebullient, cut the ribbon to inaugurate the crossing before 1,200 guests. ''My Palestinian brethren have got their passports at the ready and can come to this crossing any time they are ready," said Abbas, who symbolically offered his travel documents for inspection.

The opening of Rafah is an important boost for Abbas's government, which badly needs to be able to point to tangible improvements in Palestinians' daily lives as proof that his pragmatic approach to dealings with Israel works.

Up until now, Palestinians have seen little real change as a result of Israel's withdrawal of troops and Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip, which was completed in September. Since then, Palestinian frustration has been building over continued tight Israeli restrictions on the movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza.

Yesterday's ceremony offered a glimpse of the complex interplay between the Palestinian Authority and the militant group Hamas, which is fielding candidates for the first time in parliamentary elections, set for Jan. 25.

Hamas expressed scorn for the US-brokered agreement, which opens Rafah and provides for Palestinian travel between the West Bank and Gaza, saying the terms conceded too much to Israel. But Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar, ever attentive to Palestinian public opinion, nonetheless attended the ribbon-cutting.

''We are participating today because the reopening of the Rafah crossing is one of the achievements of the resistance," said Zahar, echoing the Hamas theme that the militant groups deserved credit for driving Israel out of Gaza.

Abbas took pains to portray the opening as only a first step. ''We must not delude ourselves that we have full sovereignty in the Gaza Strip, because sovereignty . . . should be on all our lands," he said.

Initially, the crossing will be open for only four hours a day because the European observer team will not be at full strength until mid-December.

Israel will not have forces stationed at the border, but will be able to view videotape footage of the crossing in a nearby liaison office. Israel will be able to request that Palestinian forces and European observers detain and question someone who seems suspicious but will not be able to veto anyone's entry.

Dozens of Palestinians gathered outside the terminal yesterday, sitting in green plastic chairs under the shade of a metal awning in hopes the passage might open a day early.

Najar, whose husband lives in Jordan, said that under Israel's control she would sometimes have to shuttle between her home in nearby Khan Younis and the congested terminal for 15 days before she was able to cross. ''We were depressed and disappointed. We were mentally and physically exhausted," she said.

Material from the Associated Press was included in this report.