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Rice sees Mid-East deal this year Rice sees Mid-East deal this year
(about 6 hours later)
The US still believes a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians is possible by the year's end, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said.The US still believes a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians is possible by the year's end, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said.
Meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, she described continued Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank as "problematic". During a visit to the region, she described Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank as "problematic".
US President George W Bush is hoping for a peace deal by the time he leaves office in January. Israel's foreign minister, who met Ms Rice in Jerusalem, said the issue would not stand in the way of a peace deal.
Mr Abbas said failure to reach a peace deal was not an option. US President George W Bush is hoping for a peace agreement by the time he leaves office in January.
The current peace process, launched at the big Middle East conference that Mr Bush hosted at Annapolis in November, has been dogged by a perceived lack of progress. Ms Rice's visit is laying the ground for President Bush's trip to the region later this month.
Ms Rice is due to have talks on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, whom she saw for dinner on Saturday. The current peace process, launched at a Middle East conference hosted by Mr Bush in November, has been dogged by a perceived lack of progress.
'Undermined' Gaza precedent?
Before travelling to Ramallah on Sunday morning, Ms Rice met Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Early on Sunday, the secretary of state travelled to the West Bank town of Ramallah.
Rice frustrated over roadblocksRice frustrated over roadblocks
Her visit is laying the ground for President Bush's trip to the region later this month. After talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, she said the US regarded the issue of the settlements as "particularly problematic to the atmosphere of trust that is needed" during peace talks.
The US administration is hoping it can bring about a deal between the Palestinians and the Israelis but correspondents say that with just nine months to go before Mr Bush's term ends, time is running out. She added that the goal of a peace agreement was still achievable this year. Mr Abbas also said failure was not an option.
Afterwards, she returned to Jerusalem for talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
During a joint news conference, Ms Livni pointed to Israel's 2005 withdrawal from Gaza Strip as proof that Jewish settlements were "not obstacles" to peace.
Israel dismantled 21 Jewish settlements in Gaza when it withdrew.
Ms Rice is due to have talks on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
The US administration is hoping it can bring about a deal between the Palestinians and the Israelis but correspondents say that time is running out.
Ms Rice is raising pressure on Israel to ease freedom of movement for Palestinians in the West Bank.Ms Rice is raising pressure on Israel to ease freedom of movement for Palestinians in the West Bank.
On her plane from London on Saturday, she said she would be asking about an Israeli promise to lift 61 roadblocks.
She added that "everybody [was] looking to the Palestinians to take responsibility for security".
Several hundred members of the Palestinian security forces took up positions in the West Bank town of Jenin on Saturday as part of a security plan backed by the Americans and approved by Israel.
Hundreds of Palestinian security forces have already been deployed under the plan in the town of Nablus.
But Mr Abbas's government has complained that continued Israeli raids against militants in the West Bank undermine the efforts of the Palestinian forces.
Israeli-Palestinian talksIsraeli-Palestinian talks
Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas are 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 set to hold a bilateral meeting in Jerusalem on Monday after Ms Rice's departure, according to Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.
Rice: "These are the first really serious discussions in seven years"Rice: "These are the first really serious discussions in seven years"
But the BBC's Kim Ghattas says that after months of talks, there is little evidence of progress as the economic situation of Palestinians, especially in Gaza, deteriorates.But the BBC's Kim Ghattas says that after months of talks, there is little evidence of progress as the economic situation of Palestinians, especially in Gaza, deteriorates.
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.