Israel to open Gaza border passages

Israel has agreed to an unusual request from Egypt to reopen border crossings with Gaza, officials say.

The passages, which were closed after a mortar shell was fired on Monday, are expected to open around midday on Tuesday, Israeli military officials said.

Egypt's request appeared to be an attempt to prod forward a three-week-old cease-fire between Israel and Hamas-led Gaza.

The truce was designed in part to ease Israel's crushing blockade of the coastal strip.

In agreeing to reopen the passages, Israel suggested it might stop automatically closing the crossings in response to every truce violation.

About a dozen rocket attacks have been fired into Israel over the last three weeks, but none have caused serious injuries.

Crossings were closed for about half that time.

Nilin breathes

In another development, Israel lifted a curfew on the Palestinian village of Nilin, a military spokeswoman said.

Ayman Nafi, the town's mayor, confirmed that the soldiers had pulled out.

"We woke up and luckily we did not see their presence," he said early on Tuesday.

"Now we are inspecting the damage they have inflicted on us."

The curfew, which prevented residents from leaving their homes or traveling in and out of the village, was imposed on Friday after violent protests erupted over Israel's West Bank separation barrier.