Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said here Wednesday that Israel has agreed to let a third party to monitor Gaza Strip crossings.

Israel and Egypt have agreed that a third party could play a role in monitoring passengers in and out the of the Gaza Strip at the Rafa crossing on the Egypt-Gaza border, Mofaz told reporters following a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

However, goods and trucks in and out of the Gaza Strip will be rerouted to Kerem Shalom crossing further east where Israel, Egypt and Gaza borders meet, he said, adding that the crossing will be ready in about two months.

It is unclear at the moment which countries will be involved in the monitoring mission, but past talks between Israel, Palestinian and Egyptian officials have tipped the European Union for a possible role.

The Rafa crossing, the only land exit to the outside world for Gazans that bypasses Israel, was closed by Israel on Sept. 7 before it started the historic withdrawal from the coastal strip after 38 years of occupation.

The crossing has since been reopened several times for humanitarian reasons, but Israel has refused to formally reopen it, fearing Palestinian militants might use it to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip.

Egypt now deploys around 750 border guards along the Egypt-Gaza border under a security agreement with Israel as part of efforts to coordinate the withdrawal.

However, Israeli officials have repeatedly accused Egypt of not doing enough to tighten security along the border and the presence of a third party is expected to alleviate Israeli security concerns.

Source: Xinhua