Brown: Basis for cease-fire can be found

January 6, 2009

LONDON (JTA) -- Gordon Brown called on the international community to help build the framework for an “immediate and sustainable cease-fire” in Gaza.

Britain's prime minister added that the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas marked “the darkest moment” for the Middle East.

Brown said the agreement would require action over the construction of smuggling tunnels and arms trafficking into Gaza, as well as an end to Israeli military action and rocket attacks by Hamas terrorists.

Speaking Tuesday in London, Brown said he is hopeful that the basis for a cease-fire -- providing assurances to Israel over security and securing an open border under international supervision for Palestinians in Gaza -- could be found.

Also Tuesday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, on a peacemaking visit to the region, told reporters a cease-fire agreement was "not far" away during a visit to French United Nations peacekeepers in South Lebanon, Reuters reported.

"I'm convinced that there are solutions," he said. "We are not far from that. What is needed is simply for one of the players to start for things to go in the right direction."

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