European Union foreign ministers pressed Egypt on Sunday to do more to prevent weapons from being smuggled to Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip - a problem undermining efforts to cement a durable truce in the Mideast. The EU's 27 foreign ministers sought support from their Jordanian and Turkish counterparts in talks meant to help create a lasting ceasefire following Israel's 22-day offensive. The critical question facing the EU is whether Hamas will go along with any peace initiative - and what incentives might be offered to Egypt to deter arms smuggling along its porous Gaza border. The ministers also pushed the Palestinian Authority, represented at the talks by Riad Malki, to pursue reconciliation with their Hamas rivals and to forge a unity government that could more effectively pursue peace talks with Israel. Israel to defend army against war charges Israel will grant legal protection for soldiers who fought in the three-week war in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Sunday amid accusations of war crimes. Olmert confirmed he had appointed Justice Minister Daniel Friedman to chair an inter-ministerial committee “to coordinate Israel's efforts to offer legal defense for anyone who took part in the operation. Israel's military censor has banned the publication of the identity of the unit leaders.
