When it hardens, 20 minutes later, the grancrete structure is twice as strong as traditional concrete, and it is durable, fire-resistant, waterproof and non-toxic more thanon-toxic morefor mosthan the poor's housing.
Mr. Sharon has insisted that a durable cease fire precede substantive political negotiations, although he last Friday dropped a previous requirement for seven days of absolute quiet.
"There needs to be a durable cease-fire," she said, "but a durable cease-fire has to entail the halt to Hamas rockets against Israel and the Israeli people".
Achieving a durable cease-fire proved elusive.
The Israeli government said it welcomed the efforts of France and Egypt to work out a durable cease-fire.
It said that if a durable cease-fire took hold, it would reopen border crossings into Gaza for goods and people.
JERUSALEM — Rejecting a United Nations Security Council resolution that called for an immediate and durable cease-fire, Israel and Hamas continued to fight on Friday.
Israeli officials involved in the talks have insisted on strictly addressing security concerns, demanding an immediate and durable cease-fire, while Palestinian officials seek rapid progress to substantive political negotiations over their demands for territory and statehood.
He said their "immediate mission" is "helping the parties achieve a durable cease-fire" and to then follow steps for a cooling-off period and confidence-building measures recommended by former Senator George Mitchell six months ago.
