Photo Jan 17 Victims of Israeli Strikes Carried by MournersBrown offers British naval help to monitor Gaza
By GREGORY KATZ, Associated Press Writer Gregory Katz, Associated Press Writer
31 mins ago 1:10 PM EST
LONDON – Britain is prepared to use its naval resources to prevent arms-smuggling into Gaza as part of a cease-fire deal, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Saturday.
He was joined in a new European peace push by the leaders of France, Germany and Italy.
The European leaders Saturday sent a joint letter to their Israeli and Egyptian counterparts offering military and humanitarian help to implement a cease-fire and ease the suffering in the battered coastal strip.
"The Israelis, Egyptians and Palestinian Authority know this offer is available," Brown said. "I think this may make it easier for people to come to a cease-fire."
Brown said that if a cease-fire is reached Britain has people ready to enter Gaza to help relieve the humanitarian crisis caused by the intense fighting.
"Britain will not be found lacking in the support we can give," he said, adding that his country could help move injured children out of Gaza so they could receive medical care elsewhere.
The prime minister said Britain could also help remove unexploded bombs in the Gaza area and would be prepared to increase the level of its humanitarian aid over the next five years.
He said Britain could also help provide security at some of the sensitive Gaza border crossing points.
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel's office released a statement saying that the European leaders all expressed support for "the efforts of the Israeli and Egyptian governments to reach a lasting cease-fire in Gaza."
The German government said details of what support would be given had not yet been determined.
"What was important for the Israeli and Egyptian sides was the basic assurance by the European states that they would support the prevention of weapons-smuggling," government spokesman Thomas Steg said, adding that details of the measures would be discussed in the coming days.
Germany has already offered to send a team of police experts to Egypt to offer advice on improving border security.
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi also joined in the offer of help, his office said Saturday.
The European diplomats are part of a global push to calm the situation in Gaza, where more than 1,100 Palestinians and 13 Israelis have been killed since an Israeli offensive began in late December.
The Israelis took action to prevent Hamas-led militants from firing rockets at civilian targets inside Israel.
Brown spoke as the Israeli cabinet was nearing a vote on whether to declare a unilateral cease-fire in the battle with Hamas.
Hamas says it would not accept the cease-fire because it would leave Israeli soldiers in Gaza. They demand a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces who have fanned out throughout the narrow, crowded territory.
An agreement to end the fighting has not yet been reached.
Brown said that if arms-trafficking and rocket attacks on Israel can be squelched there would be a solid foundation for a sustainable cease-fire.
There were continued protests against the Israeli military action Saturday in London and several other British cities.
A group of activists broke into a weapons factory in the southern English city of Brighton, smashing windows and damaging machinery.
The group claimed that the EDO MBM Technology Ltd. plant they raided was manufacturing equipment being used in Gaza by the Israeli air force. There was no answer late Saturday at a number for the company.
Local police said they made nine arrests in the case.
___
Associated Press writer Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.Questions or CommentsPrivacy PolicyTerms of ServiceCopyright/IP Policy
No comments:
Post a Comment