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Clinton to begin West Bank visit Clinton begins visit to West Bank
(about 2 hours later)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is set to meet Palestinian leaders in the West Bank, a day after talks with Israeli politicians. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is meeting western-backed Palestinian Authority leaders in the West Bank after talks with Israeli politicians.
Palestinian officials are expected to ask the US to take a tougher line on Israel over the continued expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank. She was holding talks with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, before going on to meet President Mahmoud Abbas.
In Tel Aviv, Mrs Clinton restated the Obama administration's commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state. The Palestinians are expected to press her over continued Israeli settlement activity and the Israeli blockade of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.
She said a two-state solution would also be in Israel's best interest. Gaza is led by the rival Hamas faction - which dismissed Mrs Clinton's visit.
On Tuesday, Mrs Clinton is due to hold talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in the West Bank's political capital, Ramallah. In Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Mrs Clinton restated the Obama administration's commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state.
She said a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would also be in Israel's best interest.
Internal strifeInternal strife
An aide to Mr Abbas says he will raise concerns over specific Israeli construction projects in Jerusalem with Mrs Clinton, who is on her first visit to the West Bank in her new job. An aide to Mr Abbas said he would raise concerns over specific Israeli construction projects in Jerusalem with Mrs Clinton, who is on her first visit to the West Bank in her new job.
For her part, the new secretary of state will try to convince the Palestinian leadership of her strong support for them and for the idea of a Palestinian state, correspondents say. Israeli settlement-building continues apaceFor her part, the new secretary of state will try to convince the West Bank leadership of her support for them and for the idea of a Palestinian state, correspondents say.
But part of the problem with that is the Palestinians' own deep internal divisions, says the BBC's Tim Franks, in Jerusalem.But part of the problem with that is the Palestinians' own deep internal divisions, says the BBC's Tim Franks, in Jerusalem.
Gaza remains under the control of the Islamist Hamas faction, with the West Bank under the more secular Fatah group. Gaza is in the hands of the Islamist Hamas faction, while the West Bank administration is led by the more secular Fatah group - though Israeli forces occupy large swathes of the West Bank and both territories are subject to external Israeli controls.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum dismissed Mrs Clinton's visit, saying her statements so far had been "totally biased in favour of the Zionist occupation and do not reflect any change in American foreign policy", AP news agency reported.
Fewer and fewer Palestinians are convinced that they will ever have their own state, says our correspondent.Fewer and fewer Palestinians are convinced that they will ever have their own state, says our correspondent.
Israeli opposition
At an international donor conference in Egypt on Monday, Mrs Clinton outlined her Middle East strategy and pledged $900m (£642m) to help rebuild the Gaza Strip following Israel's recent offensive there.At an international donor conference in Egypt on Monday, Mrs Clinton outlined her Middle East strategy and pledged $900m (£642m) to help rebuild the Gaza Strip following Israel's recent offensive there.
In Israel held talks in Jerusalem with the mainly ceremonial president, Shimon Peres, before going on for a meeting with outgoing Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. In Israel she held talks with the mainly ceremonial president, Shimon Peres, before going on for a meeting with outgoing Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
She met Benjamin Netanyahu and caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on her first visit to the region as the top diplomat of Barack Obama's US administration. She also met Benjamin Netanyahu and caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on her first visit to the region as the top diplomat of Barack Obama's US administration.
Right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu, who opposes some key US policies, has been asked to form Israel's next government. Right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu, who has not endorsed efforts to create a negotiated Palestinian state, has been asked to form Israel's next government after indecisive elections on 10 February.
Mrs Clinton also announced two senior US officials would head for Syria, Israel's long-time foe, for talks.
"We are going to be sending two officials to Syria. There are a number of issues that we have between Syria and the US, as well as the larger regional concerns that Syria obviously poses," Mrs Clinton said.