Dahlan: Settlement Lockdown For Three Days After Israeli Withdrawal

2005-08-01

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GAZA, Palestine, August 1, 2005 (IPC + Agencies) [Official PA website]-- The Minister of Civil Affairs Mohammed Dahlan said on Sunday that the Palestinian National Authority would close the Israeli settlement areas after the withdrawal for three days, in order to give time to an international team to inspect these areas for mines and hazardous leftovers.

Dahlan, who was speaking to local reporters in Gaza, added that the PNA would open these areas for the public under certain arrangements, hoping that everyone would commit to these orders. He pointed out that celebrations would be held to express joy at the departure of the Israeli forces, in cooperation with all Palestinian factions.

Regarding to working opportunities, the Minister stated that 40,000 breadwinners were expected to receive employment by the end of the Israeli withdrawal, with priority given to volunteers, poor families and those who used to live near the settlements and suffered from them.

As for the workers who worked inside the settlements, Minister Dahlan said the PNA had immediately decided to absorb them into the local forces, and that 4,000 workers have initially been given work in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, asserting that this number would double in the near future.

Dahlan explained that, through the Palestinian Investment Fund, the Authority would manage the agricultural facilities of the settlements for six months due to lack of venture capital.

Answering a question about crossing points, Dahlan said that the presence of the international Quartet Committee's envoy for the Israeli withdrawal, James Wolfensohn, has given a push to the negotiations with the Israeli side, as Israel had agreed to the Palestinian concept of internal crossings.

"Mr. Wolfensohn will concentrate during this week on solving the issue of Rafah border terminal, the road between Gaza Strip and the West Bank and the settlement rubble disposal," Dahlan told the reporters.

He confirmed the Palestinian viewpoint about the rubble that it should be removed outside the Palestinian territories, saying that Wolfensohn has promised to bring in machines and equipment to remove this rubble or benefit from it after a thorough analysis by international experts.

As for the future plans to benefit from the international funds, Dahlan affirmed that the technical teams have come up with 26 vital projects in Gaza Strip after the withdrawal, with varying priorities. He named construction of buildings in Jenin and Gaza, construction of Gaza Sea Port, paving a coastal highway, repairing and developing Salaheddin Road, building a number of schools and hospitals and expanding the social security network to include needy families.

As for the road connecting Gaza and the West Bank, Dahlan said the Palestinian side has concluded preliminary studies about constructing a road, railroad and transfer of electricity and telecommunication services, asserting that the World Bank and international community adopted the connecting road idea, and that Wolfensohn would submit a comprehensive proposal about this issue.

About the timeframe of the Israeli withdrawal, the Civil Affairs Minister stated that the Israeli side has informed the PNA that the actual withdrawal would commence in August 15 and would take four weeks, with the possibility of extending it to a fifth week. The Israeli forces would evacuate Gaza Strip two months after the evacuation of settlers, and then move to the northern West Bank to carry out the withdrawal there.

He noted that Erez Checkpoint would be closed during the evacuation of the northern Gaza settlements, and that it would be opened only for emergency cases. The Karni commercial crossing would only closed during the evacuation of the Israeli settlement "Nitzarim" or in case anti-withdrawal demonstrations ensue during the withdrawal.

However, he made clear that Rafah border terminal would not be closed during the entire withdrawal time, while the Toffah checkpoint leading to the Mawasi area would be closed, and access to that area would be made available from Tal Al Sultan checkpoint.

Finally, Dahlan said the Abu Holi checkpoint would closed during the day and opened only five hours each day during the withdrawal.

Source: IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis