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Rice urges Mid-East talks renewal Rice tries to save Mid-East talks
(about 2 hours later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called on the Palestinians and Israel to resume peace talks, as she begins her latest Middle East visit. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has held talks with Egyptian officials, the first stage of a trip aimed at saving Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas broke off talks in protest at Israel's recent offensive in Gaza, which has left more than 100 Palestinians dead. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas broke off contacts with Israel in protest at its recent offensive in Gaza, which has left more than 100 Palestinians dead.
Ms Rice, who has arrived in Egypt and will visit the West Bank and Israel, said a peace deal was still possible. Ms Rice said the US was concerned about the toll of innocent life, but blamed Hamas for triggering the bloodshed.
Israel has now pulled its troops out of Gaza, but has warned of fresh action. She said talks must not be sabotaged by those rejecting a peace deal.
Israeli forces entered Gaza after rocket attacks launched from there against Israel by Palestinian militants. Ms Rice will head on to Israel and the West Bank for further negotiations with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
Israel has now pulled its troops out of Gaza, but has warned of fresh action to prevent militants firing rockets at populated areas in southern Israel.
I continue to believe that they can get to a deal by the end of the year if everyone's got the will to do it Condoleezza Rice An asymmetric fightIn pictures: Gaza aftermathI continue to believe that they can get to a deal by the end of the year if everyone's got the will to do it Condoleezza Rice An asymmetric fightIn pictures: Gaza aftermath
Three Israelis have died in recent days - a civilian killed by a rocket and two soldiers in the Gaza clashes.Three Israelis have died in recent days - a civilian killed by a rocket and two soldiers in the Gaza clashes.
Ms Rice said that despite the recent violence, a deal to end the conflict was still possible before US President George W Bush left office next January. Ms Rice's trip was planned a few weeks ago and was meant to move peace talks forward, after a commitment by both sides at a conference in November in the US.
Speaking to reporters at a refuelling stop in Brussels, she blamed Hamas rocket attacks for the current round of violence but also said she would raise with Israel the "loss of innocent life" in its recent raid. But instead the US secretary of state finds herself on a rescue mission, trying to get the two parties to talk to each other again, the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says.
She added: "I continue to believe that they can get to a deal by the end of the year if everyone's got the will to do it."
Ms Rice defined a deal as a framework for an eventual Palestinian state, not a final agreement that resolved all the issues between both sides.
Parts of Jabaliya, Gaza, have been destroyed by the operation
The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says Ms Rice's trip was planned a few weeks ago and was meant to move peace talks forward, after a commitment by both sides at a conference in November in the US.
But instead the US secretary of state finds herself on a rescue mission, trying to get the two parties to talk to each other again, says our correspondent.
She adds that the recent violence has shown the limitations of the Bush administration's strategy of talking to the government of Mr Abbas while cutting off Hamas in Gaza.She adds that the recent violence has shown the limitations of the Bush administration's strategy of talking to the government of Mr Abbas while cutting off Hamas in Gaza.
Hamas does not recognise Israel and opposes the peace process. It ousted Mr Abbas's forces from Gaza in June, but he remains in control of Palestinian-administered parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.Hamas does not recognise Israel and opposes the peace process. It ousted Mr Abbas's forces from Gaza in June, but he remains in control of Palestinian-administered parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Ms Rice arrived in Cairo on Tuesday, where she was expected to raise the issue of humanitarian aid to Gaza and concerns that weapons are still being smuggled across the border.
Later in the day she will meet Mr Abbas at Ramallah in the West Bank, then go to Jerusalem for talks with Israeli PM Ehud Olmert, before leaving on Wednesday.
International alarmInternational alarm
The Israeli prime minister has warned that the recent Gaza offensive was "not a one-off event".The Israeli prime minister has warned that the recent Gaza offensive was "not a one-off event".
Mr Olmert told the parliamentary foreign affairs and defence committee: "Everything is possible... air strikes, ground strikes and special operations are all being discussed." Parts of Jabaliya, Gaza, have been destroyed by the operationMr Olmert told the parliamentary foreign affairs and defence committee: "Everything is possible... air strikes, ground strikes and special operations are all being discussed."
A senior government official quoted by Reuters news agency said Israel had called a "two-day interval" during the US secretary of state's visit.A senior government official quoted by Reuters news agency said Israel had called a "two-day interval" during the US secretary of state's visit.
Medical sources say at least 112 Palestinians - including children - have been killed since Wednesday.Medical sources say at least 112 Palestinians - including children - have been killed since Wednesday.
There has been widespread international alarm at the scale of the Israeli operation.There has been widespread international alarm at the scale of the Israeli operation.
The European Union criticised what it called Israel's "disproportionate use of force" and also demanded an immediate end to Palestinian militant rocket attacks on Israel.The European Union criticised what it called Israel's "disproportionate use of force" and also demanded an immediate end to Palestinian militant rocket attacks on Israel.
Israeli human rights group B'Tselem expressed concern at what it called the large number of children and other innocent civilians among those killed and wounded in the Gaza Strip.Israeli human rights group B'Tselem expressed concern at what it called the large number of children and other innocent civilians among those killed and wounded in the Gaza Strip.