Opening of Palestinian Passage Delayed

The opening of a land link between the West Bank and Gaza Strip has been delayed for the second time in two weeks because of disagreements over how to operate it, Palestinian and Israeli officials said Saturday.

The so-called safe passage was to have opened today, allowing Palestinians to move relatively freely for the first time between the two Palestinian-ruled areas, which are separated by Israeli land.

But the Israelis and Palestinians were unable to agree Saturday on where in the Gaza Strip to place a joint office that would issue travel permits to Palestinians.

“Under such circumstances, we do not see the safe passage operating tomorrow,” Palestinian Civil Affairs Minister Jamil Tarifi said Saturday.

Tarifi later told Israel TV that he did not want to open the route today only to have to decide the office’s location later.

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said internal disputes among Palestinian officials had caused the delay.

Israel’s internal security minister, Shlomo Ben-Ami, said more talks will be held this week to try to resolve the issue.

Under its latest interim peace agreement with the Palestinians, Israel pledged to open the safe passage Oct. 1.

The route is seen by the Palestinians as a major gain, especially for the 1 million residents of the crowded Gaza Strip.