EU BORDER ASSISTANCE MISSION AT RAFAH
(EU BAM)
Letter from Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, Minister
for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Chairman
On 29 September the Political and Security Committee
gave its support to an extension of the EU Border Assistance Mission
(EU BAM) at Rafah for a further six months until May 2007 and
tasked the preparation of a draft Joint Action on this basis.
As you know, the mission plays a key confidence-building
role in the region and works to increase Palestinian capacity
in border control. I wanted to alert you now as it is possible
that work preparing the Joint Action will be taken forward rapidly.
I will ensure you are provided with an Explanatory Memorandum
when a draft text becomes available.
12 October 2006
Letter from the Chairman to Rt Hon Geoff
Hoon MP
Thank you for your explanatory memorandum dated
25 October 2006 which Sub-Committee C considered at its meeting
on 2 November 2006. The Sub-Committee agreed to clear the document
from scrutiny, but requested some further information.
The explanatory memorandum stated that the border
post was re-opened at the beginning of Ramadan after a gap of
more than 3 months following the kidnap of an Israeli soldier.
Is it now fully operational? We would also like to know your view
on the allegations by Israel that arms are being smuggled in tunnels
near the border crossing.
Finally, we would be grateful for information
about the effect, if any, that the election of the Hamas government
has had on the operation of the Mission.
2 November 2006
Letter from Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP to the
Chairman
Thank you for your letter of 2 November, relaying
the Sub-Committee's request for further information on the operations
of EUBAM Rafah.
You ask whether the Rafah Crossing Point is
now fully operational, following its closure after the kidnap
of the Israeli soldier Corporal Shalit on 26 June. Rafah has been
open intermittently since June. It is not fully operational, but
was open for two days in the week from 6 to 12 November, enabling
2,615 Palestinians to use the crossing. We and our EU colleagues
continue to press the Government of Israel to open the crossing
on a regular and predictable basis.
You ask about arms smuggling in tunnels near
the crossing. Smuggling through tunnels on the Gaza border is
a long-standing problem, which occurred prior to the Israeli disengagement
from Gaza. EU border monitors are not mandated to tackle this
problem. We are however discussing this issue with regional and
international partners.
Finally, you ask about the effect, if any, of
the election of the Hamas government on the operation of the Mission.
From the date of Hamas' election, 25 January, to the kidnap of
Cpl Shalit, 26 June, the crossing was operational nearly every
day, as it was in the period prior to Hamas' election, from 25
November to 25 January. The Mission itself has continued to be
operational during this period. In line with EU policy, Mission
staff have not had contact with ministers in the Hamas government
since their election. Palestinian officials operating at the crossing
report to President Abbas.
28 November 2006
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