
EREZ CROSSING, OCT 17: Israeli and Palestinian negotiators launched a new round of talks here on Sunday to try to hammer out an agreement paving the way for the overdue opening of a safe passage between the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
quot;We are trying to reach agreement at Erez on the exact site for the joint Israeli-Palestinian liaison officequot; which will oversee the running of the passage, said Palestinian negotiator Sufian Abu Zaydah.
quot;Further talks are planned this evening in Jerusalem to settle various other technical problems, in particular the issue of foreigners who want to use the safe pas sage,quot; he said.
Under last month8217;s Sharm el-Sheikh peace agreement, the passage was supposed to open on October 1, but the opening date has been repeatedly pushed back due to unresolved technical problems.
quot;We have not received the magnetic cards yet so it will be impossible to use the passage in the morning,quot; Abu Zaida told AFP on Saturday dashing hopes it would open on Sunday.