This article was published by the International Middle East Media Center, January 18, 2009
Just before Saturday's decision by Israeli officials to declare a 'ceasefire' in Gaza, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni received a signed assurance from US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the US government would provide security and intelligence personnel to assist the Israeli military in its ongoing military occupation of all Palestinian land.
Previously, the US role in the conflict had been limited to material support, including weapons shipments and billions of dollars in financial commitment to Israel each year. Now, the US has committed in writing to the Israeli Foreign Minister (although no Congressional debate or resolution took place), to provide "resources, wherewithal and technology necessary in order to fulfill our part of the bargain”, according to Condoleezza Rice.
The “US part of the bargain”, according to Rice's spokesperson, thus consists of military and intelligence equipment and personnel with the aim of “inhibit[ing] the ability of Hamas to rearm."
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni called a meeting with Condoleezza Rice just two hours before the Israeli cabinet was set to vote on a unilateral ceasefire. But some analysts say that this bold strategic maneuver may have been years in the making. It secures a new role for the US military and intelligence agencies in the region, on the very last day of business for the administration of George W. Bush.
The commitments made by Rice will hold for the incoming Obama administration as well.
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