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Israel freezes Gaza agreement

JERUSALEM - Israel's defense minister said Saturday that Israel would not impose an economic siege on Gaza Strip, but he did not withdraw threats to restrict trade if security was not tightened at Gaza's newly reopened border crossing with Egypt.

Israel set a deadline of today for the Palestinians to improve security procedures, according to notes from a meeting Friday between Israeli officials and international mediators, obtained by the Associated Press.

"The Palestinians need to take action," Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said.

At a separate meeting, the United States said the security problems were caused by technical glitches at the Rafah passage between Gaza and Egypt, and not by Palestinian failures.

In a deal wrested last month under pressure from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Israel agreed to the reopening of the Rafah crossing, which it closed before quitting Gaza in September.

Israel said Friday it was freezing implementation of the agreement until problems with the Rafah terminal, which reopened Nov. 26 under the supervision of European monitors, were resolved.

Israel has accused the Palestinians of violating the deal by not providing instant information on people crossing from Egypt into Gaza. As a result, up to 15 militants wanted by Israel, including the brother of Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar, were allowed in, Israeli and Palestinian officials said.

Separately, the leader of the militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad said Saturday it will not renew its truce with Israel at the end of the year. Ramadan Shallah said Israel had not kept its side of the informal truce.

[Last modified December 11, 2005, 02:15:36]