JERUSALEM, April 30 (Reuters) - The European Union has started a training programme for Palestinian border agents at Gaza's crossing with Egypt, expanding the bloc's role at the strategic crossing point, EU officials said on Monday. The programme will be led by a former member of the British customs service who worked in northern Ireland. Ninety EU monitors have been overseeing the Rafah crossing with Egypt under an agreement that took effect in November 2005 to help open up Gaza after Israel ended 38 years of occupation. Israel often shuts down the terminal, citing security threats. Israel is pushing for changes to give the European monitors "executive powers" to carry out arrests and confiscate money and items that could be used in weapons, European diplomats say. In addition to stationing monitors at the crossing, the EU has provided X-ray machines, metal detectors, communications gear and other equipment at the crossing.
