Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access
The United Nations1 is submitting the 29th bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA), covering the period 13 – 26 December 2006 inclusive.2
The number of people passing through Rafah crossing increased significantly although the majority were pilgrims and passage through Rafah remains unreliable for regular travellers. The number of senior traders crossing to Israel at Erez continues to rise however no workers have yet been granted permits to cross.
2. Changes of note since Report No 29 (26 December):
• Rafah crossing was open on 6 days allowing a total of 2,042 people to cross into the Gaza Strip and 5,688 people out, priority being given to Hajj pilgrims. Rafah was open for 32% of scheduled hours compared to 6% during the previous period.
• Karni crossing was open on all 11 scheduled operating days enabling a total of 2,201 truckloads of goods into (a 21% decrease on period 28) and 452 truckloads of goods out (a 15% decrease) of the Gaza Strip. In addition 1,762 truckloads of aggregates were imported. Karni was open for 38% of scheduled hours compared to 49% during the previous period.
• Kerem Shalom crossing was open on 1 day for the transport of humanitarian goods.
• Erez crossing remains closed to all Palestinians except traders holding special permits and emergency humanitarian cases. An average of 188 traders are crossing Erez each day, up from 150 last period.
• Obstacles to movement in the West Bank decreased from 534 to 527. This represents an increase of 164 or 40% over the baseline figure of August 2005.
• There were 2 reported security incidents during the period: 1 at Rafah, on 14 December, when Hamas and Fatah supporters clashed when the Prime Minister was delayed in returning from Egypt and prevented from bringing through the money he had collected (the crossing was closed temporarily); and 1 at Karni, on 25 December, when a group of armed Palestinian men disrupted the movement of trucks within the crossing area (the crossing continued to operate).
3. No Change since Report No 29 (26 December):
• Sufa crossing was open on 10 of 12 scheduled working days for the transport of aggregates.
Convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank:
Truck convoys no discussion; implementation now 12½ months overdue.
Bus convoys no discussion; implementation now 11½ months overdue.
Ports:
Seaport awaiting, since November 2005, GoI assurance to donors that it will not interfere with its operation.
Airport awaiting, since November 2005, commencement of discussions.
1 The Office of the Quartet’s Special Envoy closed on 28 April. Since then the United Nations through the oPt OCHA office has assumed reporting responsibilities on the implementation of the AMA.
2 The report draws on all available data sources for reporting including the EU-BAM, UN agencies, PA ministries, PalTrade, COGAT and the World Bank.
