Kerem Shalom
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Kerem Shalom is a kibbutz and eponymous border crossing near the meeting of the Gaza Strip-Israel-Egypt borders.
[edit] Border Crossing
The Kerem Shalom border crossing is used to bring cargo from Egypt into Gaza. It has been used for the delivery of humanitarian supplies from Egypt.[1] Pallets arriving on trucks from Egypt are offloaded in Kerem Shalom, and Palestinian trucks carry the pallets in the Gaza Strip. The turnaround time for the transfer is about 45 minutes, which allows between 15 and 50 truckloads daily.
European monitors from the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) - Rafah use the Kerem Shalom crossing to get to the Rafah crossing.[2] Therefore, when Kerem Shalom is closed due to security concerns, the Rafah crossing must also close.
The EUBAM led a Liaison Office at Kerem Shalom receives real-time video and data feeds of the activities at the Rafah crossing. The Liaison Office meets regularly to review implementation of the Agreed Principles for Rafah Crossing, resolve any dispute arising the agreement, and to perform other tasks specified in the agreement. The Liaison Office is manned by liaison officers from EUBAM, the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel.
[edit] Attack and abducted soldier
On 25 June, 2006 Corporal Gilad Shalit was abducted by Palestinian militants near Kerem Shalom after the militants crossed the border from Gaza into Israel via a tunnel. Two Israeli Defense Force soldiers were killed and three others wounded, in addition to Shalit. In response and with the mission of rescuing Shalit, IDF entered Gaza Strip as part of Operation Summer Rains on 28 June.[3]
[edit] Kibbutz
In March, 2006, a deadly Avian flu virus was identified in turkey coops in Kibbutz Kerem Shalom.[4]
