Israeli, Palestinian medical services to cooperate

Israeli and Palestinian ambulance services have agreed to increase their cooperation to help victims of the violence in Gaza and the West Bank.

The agreement was announced in Geneva after talks between representatives of the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the Israeli Magen David Adom -- or Red Star of David.

The talks were hosted by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

A statement by the ICRC said the two organisations had agreed on practical steps to improve access to medical services and to ensure the freedom of movement for all medical services.

Ambulances from both Magen David Adom and the Red Crescent Society have had difficulties reaching victims of violence during the three-month Palestinian uprising.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service