EU braced for first Middle East mission

By Andrew Beatty

Date: 03/11/05

A senior EU envoy is to travel to the Middle East in the next few days to help work out the details of the EU's first security mission in the region.

Marc Otte will travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories for talks on the details of an EU mission to monitor the border between Gaza and Egypt.

The visit will follow a decision made by the Israeli cabinet on Tuesday (1 November) to approve the presence of EU monitors on the border at Rafah - the main crossing for people from Gaza to and from Egypt.

Israel's acceptance of an EU role looks like paving the way for a significant stepping up of the EU's role in the Middle East peace process.

Otte is expected to meet with Israeli Vice Prime Minister, Shimon Peres, as well as Palestinian interlocutors following Eid Al-Fitr, the three days of festivities beginning today (3 November) which mark the end of Ramadan.

The Palestinian Authority has already submitted a formal written invitation for the EU to monitor the border. An Israeli invitation is expected shortly.

EU diplomats say that after the invitation a fact- finding mission will be despatched to Rafah which lies a few kilometres from the most southerly tip of the Gaza strip, to assess the situation on the ground and to judge what security arrangements will be necessary.

A spokesperson for the Israeli foreign ministry described Tuesday's decision as a step forward.

"We are pleased, it creates a forward momentum after the disengagement, it moves us a little bit ahead," he said.

But in the initial stages a large security element is expected and questions remain over the precise role of the EU monitors.

Gaza's southern border has long been a route for militant groups smuggling arms, explosives and contraband into the occupied territories.

The Israel government has called for the EU to take a hands-on role in monitoring the border, including the power to intervene.

"It cannot be like the TIPH [Temporary International Presence in Hebron] it has to be more than that," said the Israeli spokesperson, referring to civilian observation mission in the West Bank city of Hebron.

The TIPH, while being present on the ground, has no power to intervene.

Despite reluctance among some member states that the mission could be "a potential minefield", after calling for a bigger role in the peace process the EU appears unlikely to turn down Israeli and Palestinian requests.

But caution remains. "We don't know which kind of mission it will be yet," said one EU diplomat, "it will be tricky. There is the security element as well as broader customs work."

The Israeli cabinet took the decision on 1 November 2005 to approve the presence of EU monitors on the border at Rafah - the main crossing for people from Gaza to and from Egypt. Upon this the EU Special Representative for the Middle East peace process, Marc Otte, decided to travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories for talks on the details of the mission.

Council: Policies: Foreign Policy: EU Special Representatives: Marc Otte http://consilium.europa.eu/cms3_fo/showPage.asp?id=452&lang=en

---