CONDOLEEZA RICE SIGNS ACCORD WITH ISRAEL ON HER LAST FULL DAY IN OFFICE

Someone tell me why Tzipi Livni, Israel's harsh Defense Minister, had to rush to Washington last night and sign an Agreement with Condoleeza Rice today, giving Israel American know-how to stop the flow of goods through tunnels from Egypt?

The tunnels constitute the Palestinians only source of food, medicine and fuel, ever since the Israelis closed off all border crossings some 18 months ago. But in the Israel attack that is currently going on, Israeli war planes have bombed and bombed again the tunnels.

Consider that this is one of the only wars where the attacker refuses to let refugees flee the fighting. Gazans are not allowed to leave even though they are subject to night and day air raids and tank shelling.

Just yesterday, Israeli tanks shelled the United Nations Relief Agency's food and medicine storage, destroying everything inside. The Israelis also shelled a large hospital.

So why must Livni sign an agreement with Rice on Rice's last full day in office? Almost as if the Israeli government fears that Barack Obama is going to take a new approach to talking with the Palestinians and according them due process and equal protection.