Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) got his passport at the re-operated Rafah Crossing. (Xinhua photo)

   RAFAH, Gaza Strip, Nov. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- It is the first time in the history of the Palestinian cause that the Palestinians enjoy freedom, as an agreement to re-operate Rafah Crossing on the borders between Gaza and Egypt was officially implemented on Friday.

   President Mahmoud Abbas, who arrived at the crossing on Friday afternoon for the inauguration ceremony, said that opening of the crossing is a key to achieve peace, security and economic development in the region.

   It is the first time ever that the Palestinians control the border crossing of Rafah, which was under the Israeli army control for dozens of years. Israel withdrew from the crossing and the entire Gaza Strip on Sept. 12.

   An agreement had been reached between Israel, Egypt and the Palestinians two weeks ago with the mediation of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who had visited the region and pushed hard on the two sides to hammer out the agreement.

Officials attended the ceremony of the re-operating the Rafah Crossing on the borders between Gaza and Egypt.

   According to the agreement, the Palestinians would be fully responsible for their part of the crossing and the Egyptians would control their side, while EU observers will be present at the crossing.

   The EU observers will watch the Palestinian passengers' movement at the crossing, where Gaza Strip residents, who are officially registered as citizens in Gaza, will be allowed only to travel through the crossing.

   Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a Palestinian official spokesman told reporters that after inauguration ceremony was held on Friday afternoon, the Rafah Crossing will officially start working on Saturday morning.

   "Palestinians can cross through Rafah Crossing from Saturday and it would be opened for four hours in the first ten days as a test and then it will be opened for 24 hours a day,"said Abu Rudeineh.

   70 EU observers will observe the crossing during the first ten days, the number of the observers will be minimized to 50 when the crossing is fully opened.