Rice gives US support to Mubarak proposal on Gaza
(Adds more quotes, details)
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 6 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday gave U.S. backing to a proposal by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
"We need urgently to conclude a ceasefire that can endure and that can bring real security," Rice told the U.N. Security Council. "In this regard we are pleased by and wish to commend the statement of the president of Egypt and to follow up on that initiative," she added.
But Rice made clear the United States insisted on a ceasefire that was "durable and sustainable" and would not result in a return to the situation on the ground before Israel launched its air and ground offensive 11 days ago in response to Hamas firing rockets deep into the Jewish state."
"A ceasefire that returns to those circumstances is unacceptable and will not last," said Rice.
A senior U.S. official said while the United States backed Mubarak's initiative, including his invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to work together on a ceasefire, the United States would not back down on its basic principles of a ceasefire.
The Bush administration is pressing for a ceasefire that would include three elements: a halt to rocket attacks from Gaza, the opening of border crossings into the territory and an end to smuggling into the area through tunnels from Egypt.
Rice, who leaves office in less than two weeks, called for global efforts to rebuild Gaza and called for an international donors conference to tackle the challenge.
"The United States remains deeply concerned about innocent Palestinians and Israelis who are suffering. In that regard, let me assure you, we understand the urgency of an end to the fighting and that we are working around the clock to bring an end to the violence," she said. (Reporting by Sue Pleming, editing by Jackie Frank)
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 6 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday gave U.S. backing to a proposal by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
"We need urgently to conclude a ceasefire that can endure and that can bring real security," Rice told the U.N. Security Council. "In this regard we are pleased by and wish to commend the statement of the president of Egypt and to follow up on that initiative," she added.
But Rice made clear the United States insisted on a ceasefire that was "durable and sustainable" and would not result in a return to the situation on the ground before Israel launched its air and ground offensive 11 days ago in response to Hamas firing rockets deep into the Jewish state."
"A ceasefire that returns to those circumstances is unacceptable and will not last," said Rice.
A senior U.S. official said while the United States backed Mubarak's initiative, including his invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to work together on a ceasefire, the United States would not back down on its basic principles of a ceasefire.
The Bush administration is pressing for a ceasefire that would include three elements: a halt to rocket attacks from Gaza, the opening of border crossings into the territory and an end to smuggling into the area through tunnels from Egypt.
Rice, who leaves office in less than two weeks, called for global efforts to rebuild Gaza and called for an international donors conference to tackle the challenge.
"The United States remains deeply concerned about innocent Palestinians and Israelis who are suffering. In that regard, let me assure you, we understand the urgency of an end to the fighting and that we are working around the clock to bring an end to the violence," she said. (Reporting by Sue Pleming, editing by Jackie Frank)
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