According to the Czech foreign minister, Cyril Svoboda, the Czech Republic
will not back the idea of the European Union monitoring the Rafah border
crossing between Gaza and Egypt. The incentive for just such an operation
was discussed by EU foreign ministers on Monday, one day after the EU
commissioner for the Middle East, Marc Otte, met with senior Israeli and
Palestinian officials. Guarding the border to prevent, for example,
against the smuggling of weapons, would mean unprecedented EU involvement.
Appeals to the European Union have been made by both Israeli and
Palestinian representatives.
So far, the EU's foreign ministers have approved to dispatch 50 senior
police officers to the Palestinian territories, to take part in training
Palestinian police. The Czechs reportedly will have two officers in the
group.