Olmert: US to sign pact with Israel to block Hamas arms

Occuppied Jerusalem: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Thursday Washington would sign an agreement on measures to stop Hamas from rearming after a ceasefire, Olmert's office said.

"The secretary of state noted that the United States would be prepared to assist in solving the issue of smuggling and to sign a memorandum of understanding with Israel on the subject," Olmert's office said in a statement on the 20th day of Israel's offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.