(7 Aug 1997) English/Nat
Israel has eased border controls implemented in the aftermath of last week's market bombing in Jerusalem.
The measure left hundreds of Palestinians stranded on the Egyptian border while they waited to see if they would be able to return to their homes in Gaza.
But even with the relaxation of the closure many Palestinians have still been unable to cross the border.
Israel eased a seven-day border closure on Wednesday, declared in the aftermath of last week's bomb attack in Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market.
But far from easing the crush on the border, the situation became worse as the word spread that Israel was allowing some of the Palestinians to cross.
Many of those attempting to cross the border were left disappointed as only those with Palestinian Authority passports were allowed through by the Israelis.
Those with other passports, or with the temporary papers, were turned away.
Israel shut the border on July 30, declaring it a necessary security measure after two men set off bombs in the Jerusalem fruit and vegetable market, killing 15 people and wounding more than 150.
But many of the Palestinians waiting at the border protested that they supported the Arab-Israeli peace process and condemned the bomb attack.
They claimed that their lives were being unfairly disrupted by collective punishment.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"People wants peace but such behaviour of the Israeli government is pushing people to terror. I wish you can meet one of those terrorist and ask him why did you do this, he will say I can not work, I can not move, I can not leave the country. Everything is not
allowed he can not do anything except terror."
SUPERCAPTION: Abdel Khader Ahmed, Stranded Palestinian
Since Palestinians often carry a variety of travel papers, there was great confusion on Wednesday about who would be allowed to cross the border.
Some of those waiting have been camping at the border post for over a week.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We have been waiting here for eight days to get in and we can't, we are Palestinian with American passport and still they didn't let us in. You want to see our American
passport. This is an American passport they didn't let me in. The only reason is I am an Arab born. If I was a Jewish born it would have been another story."
SUPERCAPTION: Wael Medhat Abou El Oun, Palestinian American
Egyptian officials estimated several thousand people were waiting to cross the border.
Many of those who could afford it left for Cairo last week when they found the border closed.
But most of those trying to cross couldn't afford to leave and simply camped out in Rafah, supplied with food and water by the Egyptian authorities.
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