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Rice in West Bank for peace talks Rice has peace talks in West Bank
(30 minutes later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in the Middle East for talks with the Palestinian and Israeli leaders as part of a new effort to broker peace.US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in the Middle East for talks with the Palestinian and Israeli leaders as part of a new effort to broker peace.
Ms Rice met Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank town of Jericho. Later she will travel to Jerusalem for talks with Israel PM Ehud Olmert.Ms Rice met Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank town of Jericho. Later she will travel to Jerusalem for talks with Israel PM Ehud Olmert.
Talks are likely to focus on expanding a ceasefire declared by militants in Gaza and welcomed by Israel.Talks are likely to focus on expanding a ceasefire declared by militants in Gaza and welcomed by Israel.
The US said it wanted both sides to do more to ease the security situation.The US said it wanted both sides to do more to ease the security situation.
Ms Rice has been accompanying US President George W Bush in talks in Amman, Jordan, with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.Ms Rice has been accompanying US President George W Bush in talks in Amman, Jordan, with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Security needs
The BBC's Matthew Price in Jericho said Condoleezza Rice's convoy sped in across the border from Jordan for what is a quick and hastily arranged stop-off on her Middle East trip.The BBC's Matthew Price in Jericho said Condoleezza Rice's convoy sped in across the border from Jordan for what is a quick and hastily arranged stop-off on her Middle East trip.
Ms Rice will be thanking the Palestinian leader for the key role he played in securing the militant ceasefire, our correspondent says.Ms Rice will be thanking the Palestinian leader for the key role he played in securing the militant ceasefire, our correspondent says.
But she will also press him to redouble his efforts to form a new Palestinian government that accepts Israel's right to exist.But she will also press him to redouble his efforts to form a new Palestinian government that accepts Israel's right to exist.
US support
In Jerusalem, sources say Ms Rice is likely to ask the Israelis do what they can to ease the restrictions imposed on Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.In Jerusalem, sources say Ms Rice is likely to ask the Israelis do what they can to ease the restrictions imposed on Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Mr Olmert promised concessions if Palestinians end violenceThe Gaza ceasefire deal was followed earlier this week by a pledge by Mr Olmert, Israel's prime minister, to offer economic and humanitarian incentives if Palestinians end violence, release a captive Israeli soldier and resume peace negotiations. In Amman, Mr Bush appealed for support for Mr Abbas, who is popularly known as Abu Mazen.
The new developments have raised hopes that some diplomatic progress can be made in the long-running conflict. Our experience with these meetings are that they justify more Israeli aggression against our people Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahhar "Abu Mazen, who I believe wants there to be a Palestinian state living side by side in peace with Israel, deserves the support of the world.
"I think it's up to us and the Israelis to make it work," said chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. "And he deserves support in peeling his government away from those who do not recognise Israel's right to exist."
"It can work. The opportunity is there," he told the Associated Press. The Gaza ceasefire deal was followed earlier this week by Israeli government's abandonment of a unilateral approach relying on its military superiority.
Key differences Prime Minister Olmert offered economic and humanitarian incentives if Palestinians ended violence, released a captive Israeli soldier and resumed peace negotiations.
However, Israelis and Palestinians are still deadlocked over negotiations to free Cpl Gilad Shalit, seized by militants from an army post near Gaza in June.However, Israelis and Palestinians are still deadlocked over negotiations to free Cpl Gilad Shalit, seized by militants from an army post near Gaza in June.
Mr Olmert signalled a willingness to release Palestinian prisoners if Cpl Shalit is released, but Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman has yet to construct a deal that satisfies both camps.Mr Olmert signalled a willingness to release Palestinian prisoners if Cpl Shalit is released, but Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman has yet to construct a deal that satisfies both camps.
And both Israel and the US remain frustrated by the pace of Palestinian talks on forming a national unity government.
Mr Abbas has been negotiating to replace the current government, led by the Hamas group, with a unity coalition willing to enter talks with Israel.Mr Abbas has been negotiating to replace the current government, led by the Hamas group, with a unity coalition willing to enter talks with Israel.
Israel has said that formation of a unity government is a pre-requisite for resuming peace talks. Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahhar of Hamas dismissed the Abbas-Rice meeting as unhelpful to the Palestinian cause.
"Our experience with these meetings and these visits are that they justify more Israeli aggression against our people," Mr Zahhar said.