JERUSALEM, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Israel said on Wednesday that talks were still underway with Egypt over a ceasefire proposal for the Gaza Strip despite French President Nicolas Sarkozy's announcement that the plan had been accepted by the Jewish state. "We welcome the French-Egyptian initiative. We want to see it succeed," said Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. But Regev added: "The talks continue on the basis of that initiative. A sustainable calm in the south will be based upon the total absence of hostile fire from Gaza into Israel and an effective arms embargo on Hamas that enjoys international support." A Hamas official in the Gaza Strip also said that the Egyptian proposal was "still under discussion".
A foreign journalist stands next to Israeli soldiers near the Karni Crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip January 7, 2009. Israel and Hamas said they were temporarily holding their fire ...
Egypt
