WASHINGTON, March 26, 2007, (WAFA)-A World Bank study released on Monday called for the opening of the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt to exports and imports to try to stem the Palestinian economic collapse.

The World Bank revealed that goods from Gaza should be allowed to move through the border with Egypt, in a boost to the economy of the impoverished coastal strip.

Currently, Gaza's only trade link is through Israel, but cumbersome security checks have turned that crossing into a bottleneck, with only a few dozen truckloads being exported every day.

The study says Palestinian exports through Rafah could begin once security procedures and a transit protocol between the Palestinian and Egyptian governments have been worked out, expressing World Bank and European Commission readiness to give technical help.

"Virtually all trade with Gaza is restricted to the Karni crossing with Israel. Limited operating hours at Karni and Israel's frequent closure of the crossing have reduced the flow of goods and driven up prices. Palestinian exports have plummeted to their lowest levels since 1994 because of the Karni closures and a year-old Western ban on direct aid to the Hamas-led government," the study added.

H.M (19:45 P)-(17:45 GMT)