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| Rice heads for new Mid-East talks | Rice heads for new Mid-East talks |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in the Middle East in the latest attempt to push for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. | |
| Ms Rice will hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. | Ms Rice will hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. |
| No big announcements are expected during the visit, says the BBC's state department correspondent Kim Ghattas. | No big announcements are expected during the visit, says the BBC's state department correspondent Kim Ghattas. |
| But it will set the stage for President George W Bush's trips to the region next month, our correspondent says. | But it will set the stage for President George W Bush's trips to the region next month, our correspondent says. |
| The US administration is hoping it can bring about a deal between the Palestinians and the Israelis, but with nine months to go before Mr Bush's term ends, time is running out. | The US administration is hoping it can bring about a deal between the Palestinians and the Israelis, but with nine months to go before Mr Bush's term ends, time is running out. |
| 'Little progress' | 'Little progress' |
| Ms Rice arrived in Israel on Saturday and will dine with Mr Olmert in Jerusalem. | |
| On Sunday she will travel to the West Bank town of Ramallah to meet Mr Abbas. | On Sunday she will travel to the West Bank town of Ramallah to meet Mr Abbas. |
| During her visit, Ms Rice will also host two trilateral meetings between senior Israeli and Palestinian officials, including joint talks with Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. | During her visit, Ms Rice will also host two trilateral meetings between senior Israeli and Palestinian officials, including joint talks with Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. |
| The secretary of state has described these meetings as "very useful" in helping to identify areas of convergence between the two sides. | The secretary of state has described these meetings as "very useful" in helping to identify areas of convergence between the two sides. |
| Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas are also set to hold a bilateral meeting in Jerusalem on Monday after Ms Rice's departure, according to Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. | Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas are also set to hold a bilateral meeting in Jerusalem on Monday after Ms Rice's departure, according to Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. |
| But after months of talks there is little evidence of progress as the economic situation of Palestinians, especially in Gaza, deteriorates, our correspondent says. | But after months of talks there is little evidence of progress as the economic situation of Palestinians, especially in Gaza, deteriorates, our correspondent says. |
| At a Middle East Quartet meeting of the EU, UN, Russia and US on Friday, Ms Rice urged international donors and Arab countries in particular, to live up to their pledges to the Palestinians. | At a Middle East Quartet meeting of the EU, UN, Russia and US on Friday, Ms Rice urged international donors and Arab countries in particular, to live up to their pledges to the Palestinians. |
| The Quartet also called on Israelis to freeze all settlement activities and urged the Palestinians to curb militant attacks, saying both sides should refrain from any actions that undermined peace talks. | The Quartet also called on Israelis to freeze all settlement activities and urged the Palestinians to curb militant attacks, saying both sides should refrain from any actions that undermined peace talks. |