JERUSALEM, Nov 14 (Reuters) - The European Union has agreed to keep monitors stationed at Gaza's border crossing with Egypt for another six months, officials said on Tuesday. Some 70 European monitors have been overseeing the Rafah crossing under a 12-month agreement, which took effect at the end of Nov. 2005 and was aimed at opening up Gaza after Israel withdrew following 38 years of occupation. EU foreign ministers approved the six-month extension of the monitoring mission to May 24, 2007 at a regular meeting in Brussels on Monday. Palestinians technically control the crossing but its operations can be blocked by Israel, which has shut the crossing frequently this year because of what it says are threats from Palestinian militants. EU officials had earlier warned that the European monitors could be withdrawn from Rafah at the end of their mandate because of concerns about Israeli restrictions. EU foreign ministers called on Israel to "respect previous agreements and ... to do its utmost to ensure that they (Gaza's border crossings) are opened and remain open," the EU monitors said in a statement.
