Israel to begin construction of border terminal despite protest

JERUSALEM - Israel will begin constructing a border terminal for the entrance of Palestinians to the Gaza Strip from Egypt despite Egyptian and Palestinian opposition to the proposal, the Haaretz newspaper's Web site reported on Thursday.

Egyptian envoy Omar Suleiman had on Wednesday in a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon rejected the idea of a new Israeli terminal. The crossing is meant to ensure Israeli control of the entrance of people and goods to the Gaza Strip even after Israel completes its withdrawal from the coastal strip later this month.

For Palestinians, the issue of the crossing is of vital importance. The Palestinians wish for the first time to have direct access to the outside world, without Israeli intervention.

A planning committee is slated to meet Monday to allocate the land for the terminal, which would be built at the southern corner of the Gaza Strip that borders Egypt and Israel, Haaretz reported. Construction can begin immediately after the committee grants approval, the daily's Web site reported.

The Defence Ministry has approved initial plans for the construction of the terminal, Haaretz said.

According to the Israeli proposal, Palestinians and goods exiting the Gaza Strip could still leave through the existing terminal at Rafah, which would not be Israeli-controlled. Israel says it wants to prevent the smuggling of weapons and entrance of militants into the Gaza Strip.