RENEE MONTAGNE, host: This is MORNING EDITION from NPR News.  I'm Renee Montagne.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Beginning today, for the first time since 1967, Palestinians will be able      to cross from Gaza to Egypt without encountering Israeli troops.      Palestinian Authority Leader Mahmoud Abbas is officially opening the      Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt.  The crossing will be monitored by      European Union troops. NPR's Linda Gradstein reports.</s>LINDA GRADSTEIN reporting: The handover of the Rafah border terminal to Palestinian control is seen      by Palestinians as a step toward statehood, following Israel's withdrawal      from Gaza earlier this year.  Palestinian Authority spokesman Nabil Abu      Rudeineh said the crossing is being controlled by the Palestinian      Authority and the European Union troops are there only as monitors.  The      negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians over the border crossing      had been stuck for months until Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice      worked out a compromise two weeks ago.  Under that agreement, Israeli and      Palestinian security officers will use remote-control cameras at an      EU-run control room a few miles from Rafah to watch activity at the      terminal.  If Israel wants someone stopped or detained, they must ask the      Palestinians to do it.</s>LINDA GRADSTEIN reporting: Israeli officials say they're concerned that wanted militants will be      able to come into Gaza from Egypt.  The Jerusalem Post today reported      that Rafik al-Hassanat(ph), a senior member of Hamas, who fled to Egypt      in 1993, returned to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah terminal earlier      this week.  The border was open for a few hours on Wednesday to allow      hundreds of Palestinians stranded in Egypt to return to Gaza.  Starting      tomorrow, the crossing will be open for four hours a day until all 70      European Union monitors are in place. Eventually it will be open 24 hours      a day.  Palestinian officials say they hope the easing of travel      restrictions will also help Abbas' Fatah party in Palestinian      parliamentary elections in January.</s>LINDA GRADSTEIN reporting: Linda Gradstein, NPR News, Jerusalem.
For the first time since 1967, Palestinians can cross form Gaza to Egypt without encountering Israeli troops. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas officially opened the Rafah border terminal on Friday. The crossing will be monitored by European Union troops.