Rice holds talks to bring Israel and Palestine formal peace negotiations

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Source: CCTV.com | 10-15-2007 07:44

US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice(File photo)

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has begun a four-day tour in the Middle East. She met Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Ehud Barak, and will also hold talks with Palestinian leaders. Rice is struggling to bring Israelis and Palestinians close enough to start formal peace negotiations.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in the Middle East to prepare for an upcoming peace conference.

The US plans to host the meeting late next month in Annapolis, Maryland, and hopes it will lead to formal peace negotiations.

In Jerusalem, Rice met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

Olmert told Rice that it was his "clear hope" a joint statement would be agreed upon in time for the conference but added "that's not a condition for the meeting to take place".

Olmert has sought to address in general terms the most divisive aspects of the Middle East conflict -- borders of a Palestinian state, the future of the holy city of Jerusalem, and the fate of millions of Palestinian refugees.

The Palestinians have said that without such a document, they will skip the meeting altogether. Rice said she did not believe her visit would produce the joint Israel-Palestinian statement.

At the same time, she urged Israel not to do anything that could threaten the conference. After meeting with Rice, Barak issued a statement emphasizing that the Israeli military's freedom of movement in the West Bank was a "fundamental principle."