Paris - French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday in Paris that Israel must be given certain security guarantees before the fighting in the Gaza Strip can end.

"Certain conditions for a ceasefire must be created. The key is to give Israel security guarantees that arms smuggling across Egypt's border with Gaza will cease," Merkel told journalists after a meeting with Sarkozy.

The French president agreed. "We must give Israel guarantees that arms are not smuggled into Gaza across the border," he said.

Sarkozy also called for a rapid implementation of a ceasefire accord.

"We are running out of time. The longer we wait, the greater the chances that there will be oil thrown into the fire," he said.

Merkel was in Paris to help open a two day symposium on a re- evaluation of capitalism as a response to the economic crisis. (dpa)