TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Israel will turn four military checkpoints between Gaza and Israel into border crossings for civilians, where passports would be stamped.
Israel army radio Wednesday quoted Interior Minister Ophir Pines-Paz as saying the checkpoints of Erez north of Gaza, Karni in central Gaza and Suva and Kerm Shalon in the south will be made into border crossings.
He said in the initial stage "no crucial changes will take place at the passageways since the Palestinian Authority has not become an official state, but things will proceed gradually."
He said that he will ask the Knesset's foreign relations committee to reduce procedures for the entry of Palestinian workers from Gaza to Israel by granting them work passes.
"We are working on facilitating procedures but that will not be on the expense of security," he added.
