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Rice meeting Palestinian leaders US in $80m Palestinian aid deal
(about 1 hour later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is meeting Palestinian leaders in the West Bank as she continues her tour of the Middle East. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has signed an agreement giving the Palestinian Authority $80m (£39m) to reform their security services.
She attended a meeting of the emergency cabinet which was installed in the West Bank after the Hamas faction took over the Gaza Strip in June. Ms Rice was in the West Bank, where she attended a meeting of the Fatah-led cabinet which was installed after the Hamas faction took over Gaza in June.
The US is seeking to bolster the Fatah leadership, headed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. She said Israel was ready to discuss "fundamental issues" leading to the creation of a Palestinian state.
Ms Rice was expected to announce an aid package for the Palestinian Authority. The US is seeking to bolster the Fatah leadership, headed by Mahmoud Abbas.
She will not be meeting any leaders from the Hamas Islamist movement during her trip. At a news conference in Ramallah with Mr Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, Ms Rice said Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was ready to meet to talk about key points leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
She has already visited Jerusalem to discuss ways of restarting Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. "He looks forward to continued discussions with you and he is ready to discuss the fundamental issues that will lead to negotiations soon for the creation of a Palestinian state... and the United States wants to support that bilateral track," she said.
During talks with Israeli leaders, Ms Rice said she believed Mr Abbas was capable of negotiating on behalf of all Palestinians. 'Sensitive issues'
"We do have in the Palestinian territories a government that is devoted to the international principles, the foundational principles for peace and this is an opportunity that should not be missed," she said. Mr Abbas said he was ready to work with Israel on a "declaration of principles" as a step toward a full peace agreement.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Israel would not miss the chance to "promote a dialogue" with Mr Abbas. Israeli-Palestinian talks would "focus on implementing what was mentioned in the road map," he said, referring to the stalled international peace plan.
Ms Rice will not be meeting any leaders from the Hamas Islamist movement during her trip.
On Wednesday, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Israel would not miss the chance to "promote a dialogue" with Mr Abbas.
But Ms Livni suggested Israel was not yet ready to negotiate on issues such as the status of Jerusalem, the right of return for Palestinian refugees and future borders with any Palestinian state.But Ms Livni suggested Israel was not yet ready to negotiate on issues such as the status of Jerusalem, the right of return for Palestinian refugees and future borders with any Palestinian state.
"Sometimes it is not wise to put the most sensitive issues first," she said."Sometimes it is not wise to put the most sensitive issues first," she said.
Since Hamas took control of Gaza, the US and Arab League have sought to isolate the Islamist militant group by offering strong support for Mr Abbas's Fatah-led government. Since Hamas took control of Gaza, the US and Arab League have sought to isolate the Islamist militant group by offering strong support for Mr Abbas's emergency cabinet.
Israel has released Palestinian prisoners and transferred millions of dollars in frozen tax receipts to the Palestinian Authority as goodwill gestures to bolster Mr Abbas.Israel has released Palestinian prisoners and transferred millions of dollars in frozen tax receipts to the Palestinian Authority as goodwill gestures to bolster Mr Abbas.