Deal on Gaza border inspections soon: Abbas

GAZA CITY (AFP) — The Israelis and Palestinians are close to an agreement on border checks for civilians and trade crossing into the Gaza Strip from Egypt, according to Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas.

"There is no agreement until now but there will be an agreement very soon," Abbas told reporters after talks with former World Bank chief James Wolfensohn who has been mediating over the economic aspects of Israel's pullout from Gaza.

Israel has said it is willing to ...