Kerem Shalom

Infobox Kibbutz
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pushpin_mapsize=
latd=31 |latm=13 |lats=39.71 |latNS=N
longd=34 |longm=17 |longs=4.55 |longEW=E
name = Kerem Shalom
hebname=Hebrew|כרם שלום
meaning=Vineyard of Peace
foundation = 1966 (original)
2001 (re-establishment)
founded_by = Hashomer Hatzair members
region = Northwestern Negev
district=south
council = Eshkol
industry = Agriculture
affiliation = Kibbutz Movement
website =

Kerem Shalom ( _he. כרם שלום, lit. "Vineyard of Peace") is a kibbutz in the Eshkol Regional Council and a border crossing near the meeting of the Gaza Strip-Israel-Egypt borders.

Kibbutz

The kibbutz was founded in 1966 adjacent to the triborder area by members of Hashomer Hatzair. Its name includes the word "shalom" since the members believed that the location would play a role in establishing peace and ending the Arab-Israeli conflict. The kibbutz came apart in 1996, but was re-established in 2001.

In March 2006, a deadly Avian influenza virus was identified in turkey coops in Kibbutz Kerem Shalom. [ [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1143498773870&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Bird flu discovered in Kibbutz Kerem Shalom] Jerusalem Post, 31 March 2006]

Border crossing

Since 20 March 2006, the Kerem Shalom border crossing has been used to bring cargo from Egypt into Gaza. It has been used for the delivery of humanitarian supplies from Egypt. [ [http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/2ee9468747556b2d85256cf60060d2a6/ea18f2bd65c8a24f8525713b005728a0!OpenDocument Gaza Strip Situation Report] United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 23 March 2006] 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.

The Kerem Shalom crossing is managed by the Israel Airports Authority. [ [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1200308084927&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Kassam materials caught at border] Jerusalem Post, 14 January 2008] European monitors from the European Union Border Assistance Mission Rafah use the Kerem Shalom crossing to get to the Rafah Border Crossing. [ [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/14CF8EEA-C25E-4ED4-968B-EA5C9B3C26ED.htm Hamas threatens to end Rafah deal] Al Jazeera, 25 June 2006] Therefore, when Kerem Shalom is closed, the Rafah crossing also closes.

The EUBAM heads a Liaison Office at Kerem Shalom which 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", to resolve any dispute pertaining to the agreement, and to perform other tasks specified therein. The Liaison Office is manned by liaison officers from EUBAM, the Palestinian Authority, and the Government of Israel.

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 the Gaza Strip 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. [ [http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/06/28/israel.soldier/index.html Settler's body believed found] CNN, 29 June 2006]

References

External links

* [http://eng.negev-net.org.il/HTMLs/article.aspx?C2004=12737 Kerem Shalom] Negev Information Centre