The term „Movement and Access Agreement“ (Rafah Agreement) refers to a series of two documents („Movement and Access Agreement“ and „Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing“), the purpose of which is to regulate movement and access to and from the Gaza Strip after the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The movement and access agreement between Israel and the AP3 (15.11.05) was reached through negotiations supported by the US and the EU. The agreement regulated Israel`s withdrawal from the Gaza-Egypt border and set a deadline of 25 November 2005 for the full functioning of the new border regime. • The Rafah crossing was closed to passenger traffic for 507 working days. It was last opened on 9 June 2007. However, the crossing was exceptionally open during the reporting period, sometimes over eight days, resulting in 272 humanitarian cases reaching Gaza and another 11 were removed. After the second intifada, which began in 2000, Israel severely restricted palestinians` freedom of movement within the Palestinian territories and between the territories and the rest of the world. In order to improve the living conditions of the Palestinians and advance the peace negotiations, the parties concluded the „Agreement on Movement and Access“: „an agreement on facilitating the movement of people and goods within the Palestinian territories and on the opening of an international border crossing on the border between Gaza and Egypt, that will give the Palestinians control over the entry and exit of the people.“ The stated objective was to „promote peaceful economic development and improve the humanitarian situation at the Palestinian level“ of the land. [1] 3rd crossing between Gaza and the West Bank – Israel will allow convoys to pass between Gaza and the West Bank to facilitate the movement of people and goods (see: Safe Passage) The United Nations publishes the 77th biweekly report on the implementation of the Movement and Access Agreement (WADA)1 of 15 September. November 2005 covering the period from 15 to 28 October 08 (Annex)2. Given the closure of the Gaza Strip, this report also monitors movement and access through other crossing points not included in WADA. The Movement and Access Agreement (WADA) is an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) signed on November 15, 2005. The treaty aimed to improve the freedom of movement and economic activity of Palestinians in the Palestinian territories and to open the border between Gaza and Egypt.
Part of the agreement concerned the agreed principles for the Rafah crossing. • The Karni crossing has been closed to the movement of goods to and from Gaza since 12 June 2007. The conveyor/slide belt for grain, feed and gravel was open for five days (15th, 16th, 19th, 23rd and 26th). October), including 2 days during which the cement track was also open, compared to three days in the previous reference period. A total of 693 trucks of grain, feed, gravel and cement entered Gaza via both lanes, compared to 389 in the previous reporting period • Traffic barriers in the West Bank remain at 625 – the same number as in the previous reporting period. Overall, the figure of 625 represents an increase of 249 obstacles (66.2%) from the August 2005 baseline (376).2 WADA was negotiated by united States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to promote peaceful economic development and improve the humanitarian situation on the ground. It represents the obligations of the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to facilitate access to and movement within and outside the West Bank and Gaza Strip. 2 The withdrawal from the outer border and the transfer of responsibility for the security arrangements for the Rafah crossing to Egypt and the Palestinian Authority pose a significant challenge to the principle of a demilitarized Palestinian State (see: A Militarized Palestinian State).
The agreed principles for the Rafah crossing contained details of the Rafah crossing. On the basis of the Agreement, the Union set up a border support mission at the Rafah crossing point (`EU BAM Rafah`). • The Nahal Oz border crossing was open 8 days out of 12 planned, compared to 5 days in the previous reporting period. 240,070 litres of petrol (30,008 Italian lire/open day), 2,117,240 litres of diesel (264,655 Italian lire/open day), 1,762 tonnes of cooking gas (220 tonnes/open day) and 5,964,020 litres of industrial gas for the power plant (745,502 litres/open day) were authorised. 4. Gaza Seaport – Israel has agreed that the construction of a seaport can begin. Security measures will be similar to the third-party model used in Rafah. • The Erez crossing has been closed to workers for more than two years since March 2006 and to all other Palestinians since 12 June 2007, for more than a year, with the exception of a limited number of Palestinian traders, humanitarian workers and medical cases who have obtained special permits. For these people, the passage of Erez was partially opened on the 12th of the 14 days planned.
A daily average of 9 traders and 16 medical cases were allowed to be crossed. 1. Mandate: UNFICYP will actively monitor and evaluate the performance of the Palestinian Authority with regard to the implementation of the Agreement. In addition, UNFICYP will contribute to capacity-building of border control and customs operations and to liaison between the Palestinian, Israeli and Egyptian authorities in all aspects of the management of the border crossing point. The mandate and scope of the mission are as follows: 4 Israel has encountered the following additional difficulties in maintaining the agreement: 5. Airport – Discussions on the issues of construction, operation and security of an airport will continue. 1 Since April 2006, the United Nations has been responsible for reporting on the implementation of WADA through the Office of the Office. 2. Authority: The EU BAM Rafah has the power to ensure that the PA complies with all applicable rules and regulations at the Rafah crossing. In the event of non-compliance, it has the power to order the re-examination and reassessment of passengers, baggage, vehicles or goods. 3.
Scope: The Mission began on November 25, 2005 for a period of 12 months and will include approximately 70 employees. • It should be noted that a total of 1,382.5 trucks, including 85 trucks from humanitarian organizations, were imported into Gaza during this period, compared to 911 trucks registered in the previous period. For more information, send an email to: ochaopt@un.org | Address: P.O. . . .