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Last update - 18:53 08/01/2009
Sarkozy: Halt to arms smuggling is key to Gaza cease-fire
By Reuters
Tags: israel, israel news, hamas 

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Thursday that the key to reaching a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza was the permanent cessation of arms smuggling to the Hamas-ruled coastal territory.

"We must give Israel the guarantee that weapons will not pass through that border. As of that moment, the Israeli army must withdraw from Gaza. Then in a second phase we will talk about reopening the border crossings," Sarkozy told a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris.



Sarkozy also said that he and Merkel were prepared to do whatever was necessary to help reach a truce ending Israel's military offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

The French president drew up a plan for a truce between Israel and Hamas gunmen in the Middle East with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and Merkel said she backed the plan.

Israel and Egypt are in talks on how to prevent the smuggling of weapons to Hamas Islamists in Gaza through tunnels under the territory's border with Egypt. Under the plan, an agreement on securing the border would lead to a ceasefire.

"Mrs Merkel and I work together every day and we are ready to take a joint initiative to help bring peace to the Middle East," Sarkozy said, without elaborating on what that initiative would be.

"Germany and France are ready to do whatever is necessary to help the various protagonists move towards peace."

Sarkozy said he was grateful to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom he met on a two-day tour of the Middle East this week, and to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, for putting pressure on Hamas to stop its rocket attacks against Israel.

Syria, along with Iran, is a main backer of Hamas and the group's leader Khaled Meshaal lives in Syria.

"Time is of the essence. Everything must be done to get a quick cease-fire. The key is guarantees for Israel's security, particularly an end to weapons smuggling," Merkel said.

Sarkozy, whose has condemned Israel's ground offensive which has killed more than 700 Palestinians, echoed that a deal should be reached quickly.

"Our analysis is absolutely identical. The weapons must fall silent. The escalation must stop. Israel must obtain guarantees for its security and leave Gaza. The sooner the better," Sarkozy told reporters.



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      1.   GOOD FOR HIM! 17:30  |  a wandering Jew 08/01/09
      2.   Not only "halt", but the mechanism to ensure that such smuggling 17:37  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 08/01/09
      3.   Where were Sarkozy, Mubarak, Merkel, etc, etc, etc... 17:46  |  bat yam 08/01/09
      4.   sarkozy and merkl ready to do what? 17:58  |  elliot 08/01/09
      5.   Sarkozy Thanks Assad 18:04  |  Harry 08/01/09
      6.   "Time is of the essence."? - Merkel 18:06  |  common sense 08/01/09
      7.   Deja Vue 18:16  |  Leo 08/01/09
      8.   halting us of U.S.-made F16`s is key just as well 18:19  |  bashar 08/01/09
      9.   Egypt`s long term plan 18:22  |  Boris 08/01/09
      10.   How about disarming Israel as well? 18:32  |  Dave 08/01/09
      11.   GUARANTEE : to secure, as by giving or taking security 18:49  |  dp 08/01/09
      12.   bashar "it is against the law to use U.S. made equipment to 19:20  |  fellow american 08/01/09
      13.   smuggling 19:29  |  Alberto 08/01/09
      14.   Dave there is more 19:51  |  seth 08/01/09
      15.   HAVEN`T I HEARD THIS BEFORE? 19:55  |  Ian 08/01/09
      16.   Sarkozy is a clown 20:03  |  Noura 08/01/09
      17.   Bashar from US 22:55  |  Serge 08/01/09
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