Post by Salem6 on Nov 2, 2003 18:50:41 GMT
Israel has allowed more than six thousand Palestinian workers to cross from the Gaza Strip into Israel for the first time in more than a month.
Israel imposed the closure over a month ago
Authorities slightly eased a border closure which had been imposed before the Jewish New Year in September to stop suicide bombers infiltrating into the Jewish state.
Permits were issued only to men aged 35 or over, whom Israel says are less likely to carry out attacks.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, meanwhile, has indicated he is willing to respond positively to an offer by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of face-to-face talks.
"We are not against [it]," he said.
In an apparent softening of his long-held position, Mr Sharon said last week he would negotiate with Mr Qurei once he had consolidated his position.
Mr Qurei is preparing to present a new government after the mandate for his emergency cabinet expires on Tuesday.
'A miracle'
Palestinians crammed through the Erez checkpoint on the Israel-Gaza border as they were allowed into Israel in the largest numbers for weeks.
"It is a miracle from God because I was running out of money due to the holy month of Ramadan and I was thinking how I would manage to feed my children in this very bad economic situation," said Mohammed Salman, a 42-year-old father of seven.
More than 50,000 Palestinians from Gaza and 100,000 from the West Bank worked in Israel before the conflict erupted three years ago.
Intermittent border closures and tight restrictions on movement between Palestinian towns have crippled the Palestinian economy and forced many families into poverty.
Israel completely sealed its border with the West Bank and Gaza after a suicide bomber from Jenin in the West Bank killed 21 people in the Israeli city of Haifa on 4 October.
Last week, Israeli chief of staff, General Moshe Yaalon, criticised tight restrictions placed on Palestinians, saying it encouraged Palestinian extremism.
Israel imposed the closure over a month ago
Authorities slightly eased a border closure which had been imposed before the Jewish New Year in September to stop suicide bombers infiltrating into the Jewish state.
Permits were issued only to men aged 35 or over, whom Israel says are less likely to carry out attacks.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, meanwhile, has indicated he is willing to respond positively to an offer by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of face-to-face talks.
"We are not against [it]," he said.
In an apparent softening of his long-held position, Mr Sharon said last week he would negotiate with Mr Qurei once he had consolidated his position.
Mr Qurei is preparing to present a new government after the mandate for his emergency cabinet expires on Tuesday.
'A miracle'
Palestinians crammed through the Erez checkpoint on the Israel-Gaza border as they were allowed into Israel in the largest numbers for weeks.
"It is a miracle from God because I was running out of money due to the holy month of Ramadan and I was thinking how I would manage to feed my children in this very bad economic situation," said Mohammed Salman, a 42-year-old father of seven.
More than 50,000 Palestinians from Gaza and 100,000 from the West Bank worked in Israel before the conflict erupted three years ago.
Intermittent border closures and tight restrictions on movement between Palestinian towns have crippled the Palestinian economy and forced many families into poverty.
Israel completely sealed its border with the West Bank and Gaza after a suicide bomber from Jenin in the West Bank killed 21 people in the Israeli city of Haifa on 4 October.
Last week, Israeli chief of staff, General Moshe Yaalon, criticised tight restrictions placed on Palestinians, saying it encouraged Palestinian extremism.