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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Rice has peace talks in West Bank | Rice has peace talks in West Bank |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is trying to build on recent Middle East peace overtures by holding talks with Palestinian and Israeli leaders. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is trying to build on recent Middle East peace overtures by holding talks with Palestinian and Israeli leaders. |
| Speaking after their meeting in Jericho, Mahmoud Abbas said his priority was to lift international sanctions on Palestinian territories. | Speaking after their meeting in Jericho, Mahmoud Abbas said his priority was to lift international sanctions on Palestinian territories. |
| Ms Rice said she hoped a militant ceasefire in Gaza could be extended into a comprehensive truce. | |
| She urged an easing of the humanitarian situation in Palestinian territories. | She urged an easing of the humanitarian situation in Palestinian territories. |
| Ahead of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem, Ms Rice was full of praise for Mr Abbas's efforts to bring about the ceasefire. | Ahead of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem, Ms Rice was full of praise for Mr Abbas's efforts to bring about the ceasefire. |
| The BBC's Matthew Price in Jericho said her 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 her convoy sped in across the border from Jordan for what is a quick and hastily arranged stop-off on her Middle East trip. |
| Our experience with these meetings are that they justify more Israeli aggression against our people Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahhar In a gesture of support for Mr Abbas, she said Palestinian "humiliations" under occupation must be eased and no actions should be taken to prejudge the outcome of a final peace deal. | Our experience with these meetings are that they justify more Israeli aggression against our people Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahhar In a gesture of support for Mr Abbas, she said Palestinian "humiliations" under occupation must be eased and no actions should be taken to prejudge the outcome of a final peace deal. |
| This was taken as a reference to Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank. | This was taken as a reference to Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank. |
| Mr Abbas, for his part, said efforts to form a unity government with the Hamas militant group had reached a dead end. | Mr Abbas, for his part, said efforts to form a unity government with the Hamas militant group had reached a dead end. |
| US support | US support |
| Ms Rice has been accompanying US President George W Bush in talks in Amman, Jordan, with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. | Ms Rice has been accompanying US President George W Bush in talks in Amman, Jordan, with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. |
| In Jerusalem, sources say, Ms Rice is likely to ask the Israelis to 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 to do what they can to ease the restrictions imposed on Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. |
| In Amman, Mr Bush also appealed for support for Mr Abbas, who is popularly known as Abu Mazen. | In Amman, Mr Bush also appealed for support for Mr Abbas, who is popularly known as Abu Mazen. |
| Mr Olmert promised concessions if Palestinians end violence"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," he said. | Mr Olmert promised concessions if Palestinians end violence"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," he said. |
| "And he deserves support in peeling his government away from those who do not recognise Israel's right to exist." | "And he deserves support in peeling his government away from those who do not recognise Israel's right to exist." |
| The Gaza ceasefire deal was followed earlier this week by the Israeli government's abandonment of a unilateral approach relying on its military superiority. | The Gaza ceasefire deal was followed earlier this week by the Israeli government's abandonment of a unilateral approach relying on its military superiority. |
| Prime Minister Olmert offered economic and humanitarian incentives if Palestinians ended violence, released a captive Israeli soldier and resumed peace negotiations. | 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 was 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 was released, but Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman has yet to construct a deal that satisfies both camps. |
| 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. |
| Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahhar of Hamas dismissed the Abbas-Rice meeting as unhelpful to the Palestinian cause. | 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. | "Our experience with these meetings and these visits are that they justify more Israeli aggression against our people," Mr Zahhar said. |