Rafah Agreement - Agreed Principles for Rafah Crossing
By Source: PLO Negotiations Affairs Department
November 16, 2005
To be supplemented prior to opening by agreements on security, customs and 3rd party
implementation procedures
General
- Rafah will be operated by the Palestinian Authority on its side, and Egypt on
its side, according to international standards, in accordance with Palestinian
law and subject to the terms of this agreement.
- Rafah will be opened as soon as it is ready to operate at an international
standard in accordance with the specifications of this agreement and as soon as
the 3rd party is on site, with a target date of November 25.
- Use of the Rafah crossing will be restricted to Palestinian ID card holders and
others by exception in agreed categories with prior notification to the GoI and
approval of senior PA leadership.
- The PA will notify the GoI 48 hours in advance of the crossing of a
person in the excepted categories—diplomats, foreign investors,
foreign representatives of recognized international organizations and
humanitarian cases.
- The GoI will respond within 24 hours with any objections and will
include the reasons for the objections;
- The PA will notify the GoI of their decision within 24 hours and will
include the reasons for their decision;
- The 3rd party will ensure the proper procedures are followed and will
advise both sides of any information in its possession pertaining to the
people applying to cross under these exceptions.
- These procedures will remain in place for a period of 12 months,
unless the 3rd party delivers a negative evaluation of the PA running
the Rafah crossing. This evaluation will be done in close coordination
with both sides and will give due consideration to the opinion of both
sides.
- Rafah will also be used for export of goods to Egypt.
- Objective criteria for the inspection of cars will be established by consensus.
The criteria are as follows:
- Search equipment will be installed, including:
- Black lights
- Power tools and a compressor for the tools
- Technology to be agreed, possibly including sonic imagery,
gamma detection (full vehicle or hand held), and/or millimetre
wave imagery
- Mirrors and bore scope equipment to search hard to reach
places
- Personnel will be trained to search vehicles and on the use of this
equipment by the 3rd party to international standards
- Cameras will be installed to monitor the search process
- The 3rd party will evaluate the capacity of the PA to inspect cars according to
these criteria and to international standards. Once the PA develops the
capacity to inspect cars to the satisfaction of the 3rd party, cars will be allowed
to pass through Rafah. Until that time, cars will pass through on an
exceptional basis, subject to specifications agreed in the security protocol.
- Rafah will be the only crossing point between the Gaza Strip and Egypt (with
the exception of Kerem Shalom for the agreed period).
- The PA will establish clear operating procedures.
- Until Rafah is operational, the PA will open Rafah crossing on an ad hoc basis
for religious pilgrims, medical patients, and others, in coordination with
General Gilad's office on the Israeli side.
- Israel will provide the PA with all information needed to update the
Palestinian population registry, including all information on Palestinian ID
card holders who are currently outside the country.
- A liaison office, led by the 3rd party, will receive real-time video and data feed
of the activities at Rafah and will meet regularly to review implementation of
this agreement, resolve any disputes arising from this agreement, and perform
other tasks specified in this agreement.
Security
- The PA will act to prevent the movement of weapons and explosives at the
Rafah crossing.
- The PA will establish baggage limits for each passenger as part of the
procedures. Limits will be the same as currently applied by the GoI; very
frequent travellers (suitcase policy) to be agreed.
o Travellers, including returning residents, may use the crossing point to
bring in personal effects as defined in Rule 1(e) to Heading 7 of the
Annex to the prevailing Customs Tariff. Any other personal
belongings or other goods shall be cleared at the Kerem Shalom
crossing point.
- The PA will provide the 3rd party a list of names of the workers at Rafah
crossing which will be shared with the Israelis. The PA will take the Israelis
concerns into account.
- Security services from Israel, PA, the U.S., and Egypt will continue to
coordinate on security issues and will participate in the security working
group.
- On a case by case basis, the PA will consider information on persons of
concern provided by the GoI. The PA will consult with the GoI and the 3rd
party prior to the PA making a decision to prohibit travel or not. During this
consultation, which will not take more than six hours, the person in question
will not be permitted to cross.
Customs
- GoI and PA will continue to apply the Paris Protocol of 29 April 1994.
- Rafah will be operated according to international standards and rules and the
Paris Protocol.
- GoI and PA agree on widest possible co-operation and information sharing.
- GoI and PA will co-operate on training issues.
- GoI and PA customs will hold regular meetings to which the GoE will be
invited as appropriate.
Kerem Shalom
- PA customs officials will clear incoming cargo at Kerem Shalom under the
supervision of Israeli customs agents.
- Both sides will discuss operating procedures at a later stage.
- Operations at Kerem Shalom will provide training and capacity building to PA
customs staff.
- The 3rd party will review the PA's customs capacity in 12 months and make a
recommendation to both sides for a joint decision regarding future
arrangements. In the event of a disagreement, the U.S., in consultation with
the GoI, the PA, and the 3rd party, will resolve the issue expeditiously.
Third party
- The 3rd party will have the authority to ensure that the PA complies with all
applicable rules and regulations concerning the Rafah crossing point and the
terms of this agreement. In case of non-compliance the 3rd party has the
authority to order the re-examination and reassessment of any passenger,
luggage, vehicle or goods. While the request is being processed, the person,
luggage, vehicle or cargo in question will not be allowed to leave the premises
of the Rafah crossing point.
- The 3rd party will assist the PA to build capacity -- training, equipment and
technical assistance -- on border management and customs.
- Details of the 3rd party's role are specified in the attached memorandum of
understanding.
- The 3rd party will be the European Union.
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