Israel to reopen Gaza terminal and extend fishing

Plans will go forth if quiet holds

JERUSALEM: Israel will reopen Gaza’s main commercial crossing and expand the Palestinian fishing zone off the blockaded enclave’s coast on Tuesday if a lull in cross-border tensions holds, Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Sunday.



Israel shuttered the Kerem Shalom border terminal and reduced the fishing zone to 11 km (6 miles) from 17 km (9 miles) on July 9 in response to fire-starting kites and helium balloons flown over by Palestinians.

Hostilities with Gaza’s Hamas spilled over into fighting last week but died down on Saturday.