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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Rice in Mid-East for fresh talks | Rice in Mid-East for fresh talks |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in the Middle East for the latest American attempt to advance an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. | |
| Shortly after arriving in Jerusalem on Saturday evening, she had talks over dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. | Shortly after arriving in Jerusalem on Saturday evening, she had talks over dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. |
| She is due to meet Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak later on Sunday. | She is due to meet Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak later on Sunday. |
| She will then go on to the West Bank town of Ramallah to see Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. | She will then go on to the West Bank town of Ramallah to see Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. |
| Speaking on the aircraft on her way to the region from London, Ms Rice said that everyone wanted to see things move more quickly, and that was why she kept going back to the Middle East. | Speaking on the aircraft on her way to the region from London, Ms Rice said that everyone wanted to see things move more quickly, and that was why she kept going back to the Middle East. |
| Rice frustrated over roadblocks | Rice frustrated over roadblocks |
| She said her talks with Israeli officials would deal with the growth of Israeli settlements, roadblocks and incursions into the Palestinian territories. | She said her talks with Israeli officials would deal with the growth of Israeli settlements, roadblocks and incursions into the Palestinian territories. |
| She said she would press the Israelis to refrain from undermining the Palestinian Authority and its security forces. | She said she would press the Israelis to refrain from undermining the Palestinian Authority and its security forces. |
| The visit will lay the ground for President George W Bush's trip to the region next month. | The visit will lay the ground for President George W Bush's trip to the region next month. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Little progress' | 'Little progress' |
| The talks are also expected to address the extent to which the Palestinians have honoured their commitments, including cracking down on militants launching attacks against Israel. | The talks are also expected to address the extent to which the Palestinians have honoured their commitments, including cracking down on militants launching attacks against Israel. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | But Mr Abbas's government has complained that continued Israeli raids against militants in the West Bank undermine the efforts of the Palestinian forces. |
| 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 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. |