GAZA, Nov.10 (Xinhuanet) -- The negotiation on reopening Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt has deadlocked over Israeli demand for surveillance cameras to be installed at the passergers terminal, Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Thursday.

    Erekat told radio Voice of Palestine that the meeting was held Wednesday between Israeli Defense Minister Shaoul Mofaz and Palestinian minister of civil affairs Mohammed Dahlan in the presence of James Wolfensohn, the Mideast Quartet' s pecial envoy. Erekat said, however, that another talks has made clear progress on Wednesday over the European supervisory role at the crossing.

    Erekat added that European Union Mideast envoy Mark Otte who attended the Israeli-Palestinian meeting has returned to Brussels with a draft agreement.

    On Nov. 1, Israeli inner cabinet approved an agreement with Cairo to reopen the Rafah crossing under the supervision of European inspectors.

    However, disputes are still unsettled on the authority of the inspectors, as Palestinians consider them advisers while Israel wants them to have veto power.

    The Palestinians who insisted on no Israeli involvement in the operation of the crossing, also objected to an Israeli demand for cameras installed at the crossing to prevent the entry of hostile operatives into the Strip.

    Rafah crossing, the only exit of Gaza to the outside world, was closed in the absence of a deal shortly before Israel completed withdrawal of settlers and troops from the Strip on Sept. 12.Enditem