IT was a smooth debut for the first Palestinian-run border Saturday. Hundreds of travelers zipped through passport control without having to submit to Israeli security checks, savoring their new freedom after 38 years of military occupation.

The Rafah border terminal between the Gaza Strip and Egypt officially opened Saturday.

The West Bank also witnessed a milestone: Corruption-tainted veterans of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' ruling Fatah movement were swept aside by younger activists in Fatah's first primary, signaling a change of generations and the rise of jailed uprising leader Marwan Barghouti.

The opening of Gaza's gate to the world and the revamping of the movement that was founded by Yasser Arafat could boost Abbas' chances of beating back a challenge by the Islamic militant group Hamas in Jan. 25 parliament elections.

At noon Saturday, the Rafah terminal on the Gaza-Egypt border opened for the first time since Israel's pullout from the coastal strip in the summer. Under a U.S.-brokered deal, the Palestinians are in charge, with backup from European monitors. Israel watches over closed-circuit TV, but cannot veto travelers.

The border was open for just four hours Saturday - a day after Palestinians took control with an inauguration ceremony - to give European monitors more time to settle in, but it will eventually operate around the clock.

European officials said 1,587 people crossed on the first day.

Before the pullout, Israelis security checks at Rafah - meant to stop militants and weapons smuggling - often caused delays of hours or days. During the last five years of fighting, Israel also imposed travel restrictions on Gazans between the ages of 18 and 45, and most couldn't leave.

Starting in mid-December, Palestinians also will be able to travel between the West Bank and Gaza for the first time in five years, at first in Israeli-escorted bus convoys. Construction is to begin on a Gaza seaport, and the United States has urged Israel to reach quick agreement with the Palestinians on reopening Gaza's international airport.

These changes could translate into growing support for Abbas ahead of the parliament election.

Hamas has belittled Abbas' nonviolent approach to drive Israel out of Gaza by force.

Editor: Wing