Israel's Livni Flies to Washington Over Gaza Plan

[tekisui]

Source: Reuters

JERUSALEM, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Israel said on Thursday Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni would travel to Washington to finalise an accord designed to prevent Hamas from rearming, a key Israeli condition for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

"Prime Minister Ehud Olmert authorised this evening the trip of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to the United States in order to promote an American-Israeli outlined agreement intended to deal with weapons smuggling," Olmert's office said in a statement.

The statement made no mention of a proposal by Hamas, relayed by Egypt, for a year-long ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. A spokesman for Olmert also declined to comment on any ceasefire proposal.

Hamas told Egypt it would agree to a year-long renewable ceasefire if Israel pulls out all its forces within 5-7 days and reopens border crossings immediately, Hamas and diplomatic sources said.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LF21283783.htm

[cali]

1. why is she doing this now?

what last minute crap are they trying to pull before bush leaves?

[tekisui]

2. That was my initial reaction.

My ears perked up. No mention of who she is meeting with or what Washington has to do with holding Hamas to not smuggling arms.

[tekisui]

5. Meeting with Rice and others....

The statement said Livni will be meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other U.S. officials.

The United States and Egypt have been working to forge a truce agreement that would end 20 days of bitter fighting in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas militants.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/01/15/news/ML-Israel-US.php

This is the first I have seen the US involved in the Egypt talks.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[DogPoundPup]

4. And as can always be exected: Egyptian TV reports,Israel responded to the Egyptian ceasefire

initiative "favorably," but had some "reservations" on Hamas' vision.

[tekisui]

6. MORE: Israel, US to sign anti-Gaza arms smuggling deal

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni will travel to Washington on Friday to conclude a US-Israeli agreement on measures aimed at preventing arms smuggling into Gaza, the prime minister's office said.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert dispatched Livni on a last-minute mission "to sign a comprehensive US-Israeli agreement aimed at treating the issue of arms smuggling," it said in a statement.

http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=mideast&item=090115212938.21jj79gd.php

[bemildred]

7. Oh yeah, that'll work. nt

[tekisui]

8. We need to see the details of whatever this 'deal' is.

Something is stinky with this.

[DogPoundPup]

9. verrrrry stinky

"GAZA (Reuters) - Israel's foreign minister flies to Washington on Friday to cement U.S. guarantees on stopping the flow of arms to Hamas, a core Israeli condition for ending its 20-day-old offensive in the Gaza Strip."

How is the U.S. to GUARANTEE on stopping the flow of arms unless......there are plans being made to expand the Israeli's war to Iran...Lebanon...?

[azurnoir]

10. Wasn't there something about US soldiers being in Rafah

on the Egyptian side a couple of weeks back? But your right it's stinky as a ripe Durian

[DogPoundPup]

11. U.S. soldiers...now that you mention it! Here it is...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x242145

[azurnoir]

13. I can see the recruitment posters

Ever want to see the pyramids? No wonder they're in a hurry another deal like the one in Iraq perhaps?

[DogPoundPup]

14. Yea, "No job? Unemployment pay doesn't pay the bill? See the Pyramids! Get Paid"

another instance where OUR troops get stationed to protect Israel

[delad]

12. i don't like the sound of it at all