Gaza truce could create conditions for U.N. force

By Adam Entous

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Egyptian-brokered truce and reconciliation talks between rival Palestinian factions could create conditions for the deployment of U.N. peacekeepers in the Gaza Strip, the United Nation's envoy said on Thursday.

Robert Serry, the world body's special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said the idea of sending peacekeepers was "premature" at this stage but that it could become "very practical" later if security and political conditions improve.

An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas Islamist group took hold on Thursday, but both sides voiced doubt over how long it would last.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, cross-border fighting is meant to stop and Israel will gradually ease its economic blockade of the coastal territory, tightened after Hamas seized control a year ago from more secular Fatah forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

"I know there is a great deal of skepticism already," Serry told Reuters in an interview. "We should all realize that this ceasefire is still fragile, particularly in the coming weeks. And that's why we will be looking to all sides to act with care and responsibility to ensure that this calm endures."

Serry said U.N. agencies could give a quick "kickstart" to the Gaza Strip's moribund economy by restarting construction projects that were frozen last year due to Israeli restrictions on imports of building materials.

"We want a controlled and sustainable reopening of the crossings," Serry said, adding that this should involve "the legitimate Palestinian Authority," referring to Abbas's government in the occupied West Bank, led by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

In addition to easing the Gaza blockade, Serry said the security concerns of Israel and Egypt must be quickly addressed.