US, Israel to Sign Deal to Boost Gaza Truce Effort

[tekisui]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Israel are signing an agreement intended to assure the Jewish state that Hamas militants will not be able to rearm if it agrees to a cease-fire to end the fighting in Gaza, officials say.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni are to ink the deal on Friday, the U.S. State Department and Israeli Embassy said. They said that among other things, the pact would lead Israel to end its military operations in Gaza.

The agreement also would assure Israel that additional steps will be taken to end weapons smuggling into Gaza and prevent Hamas from rearming. Diplomats say the text calls for enhanced intelligence cooperation and U.S. technical and logistical support for border monitors.

The diplomats say the hope is that the agreement will satisfy Israeli concerns about reopening Gaza border crossings and will be an important piece of an Egyptian cease-fire initiative being negotiated in Cairo to end the fighting that has killed some 1,100 Palestinians since Israel launched the operation on Dec. 27. Thirteen Israelis have been killed, four by rocket fire, according to the military.

"Once this is signed, hopefully Israel will be comfortable enough to allow the border crossings to reopen," one official said.

The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal, called a "memorandum of understanding," has not yet been signed.

Israel has been demanding a total end to Hamas rocket launches into Israel and an arms embargo on Gaza's militant rulers. Hamas has demanded an immediate Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the opening of blockaded border crossings.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g14_OgVc3KvfIE0q7FpUa4Ou69QQD95OAB201

[redqueen]

1. "U.S. technical and logistical support for border monitors."

I wonder what the "logistical support" referred to here entails.

[tekisui]

2. I want to know, too.

Who or what will the US be providing? And, why does a deal on the Gaza/Egypt border require signatures from ONLY the US and Israel?

[redqueen]

3. Here's one possible answer, posted on the LBN thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3691467&mesg_id=3693583

[Vegasaurus]

4. They should have done this at the borders years ago

Israel has always known that the militants would smuggle in bigger and more dangerous weapons.

Too bad that they had to be proven right.