U.S., Israel sign security agreement

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- The United States and Israel have signed an agreement calling for collaboration on security.

Israeli Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter signed the memorandum during a visit to Washington, the Jerusalem Post reported. He and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff met Wednesday evening.

Chertoff and Dichter agreed to set up a Homeland Security Steering Committee to meet once a year and make sure that common goals are carried out. The memorandum cited areas of common interest including joint efforts to make air travel and shipment more secure, and partnerships in emergency planning and in research on explosives detection.