US, Israel sign "memorandum of understanding"

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-17-2009 09:34

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni signed an agreement on Friday, intended to ensure Hamas fighters would not be able to re-arm, if the Jewish state should agree to a Gaza cease-fire.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni (L) and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (R) at the State Department in Washington, DC.(AFP/Mark Ralston)

The two sides signed a "memorandum of understanding" to curb the smuggling of weapons into Gaza by boosting intelligence cooperation and border monitoring.

Under the agreement, the US will commit certain assets, including detection and surveillance equipment, as well as logistical help and training to Israel, Egypt, and other nations that will be involved in monitoring Gaza's land and sea borders.

Tzipi Livni, Israeli Foreign Minister, said, "We have agreed on a series of actions with regional and international players in order to complement Egyptian actions and the flow of weapons to Gaza."

To agree to a cease-fire, Israel is demanding a halt to Hamas rocket attacks and internationally backed guarantees that Hamas won't be able to re-arm by smuggling weapons into the Gaza Strip.

The US has backed Israel throughout the crisis in Gaza.

Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State, said, "There are a number of conditions that need to be obtained if a cease-fire is to be durable - not to have a cease-fire, but so that it can really endure. And among them is to do something about the weapons smuggling and the potential for resupply of Hamas from other places, including from Iran."

The US and Israel also hoped European countries would work out similar agreements with the Israelis.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei