Tel Aviv, Oct 5, SPA -- European observers monitoring the Gaza Strip's gateway to the outside world threatened on Thursday to abandon their mission if Israel doesn't stop closing the passage. The monitors are a key element of a U.S.-brokered deal for the operation of the Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egyptborder. If they pull out, the crossing could be paralyzed. Israel is violating the deal by keeping the border closedfor prolonged periods of time, said Maria Telleria,spokeswoman for the monitoring mission. «We are discussing whether to end the mission or not,» Telleria said. The mission, whose mandate is to be renewed every year, is to end at the end of November. The final decision about extending the mandate will be made at the end of October, she said. The EU's top Middle East representative, Marc Otte,arrived in Israel on Wednesday to discuss the issue, the Associated Press reported. The passage was handed to Palestinian control, underEuropean supervision, last year under the U.S.-brokeredaccord.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/394290