Israel Closes Rafah Crossing to EgyptIsrael Saturday closed indefinitely the Rafah crossing point between Egypt and Palestinian-ruled Gaza Strip, Palestinian security services said.The services said that the Israeli army had informed them of the closure of the crossing, which reopened early December. The closure came after Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Barak ordered Thursday to tighten blockade of the Palestinian territories in the West Bank and Gaza following two bomb attacks, in which two Israeli soldiers were killed and 16 more Israelis injured. Israel has periodically slapped seal on Palestinian territories since the outbreak of the Palestinian-Israeli clashes on September 28, which have killed over 300 people and injured some 10,000 others, mostly Palestinians. According to an autonomy agreement, Palestinians have administrative control over Rafah crossing, whose security is under Israeli responsibility. |
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