Rafah

    The EU is scaling back its monitoring mission at the Gaza-Egypt border, which has been closed since the start of bloody factional fighting that led to Hamas' takeover of the coastal strip, a spokeswoman said Saturday. In the current situation, it's pointless to keep all 87 members of the EU mission in the area, said mission spokeswoman Maria Telleria. The monitors were deployed under a November 2005 agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, following Israel's pullout from Gaza. Under the deal, the border was controlled by Palestinian and Egyptian security forces, with European monitors deployed on the Palestinian side to prevent smuggling of weapons and militants. The border has been closed since June 9, when the final phase of fighting between Hamas and forces allied with moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas erupted in Gaza. (14,31)