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Rice has peace talks in West Bank Rice holds Mid-East peace talks
(about 1 hour 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 has held talks with Palestinian and Israeli leaders in the hope of building on recent peace overtures.
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.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. The trip was hastily arranged, days after Mr Abbas helped broker a ceasefire by Palestinian militant groups and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reciprocated by delivering a speech widely seen as more conciliatory towards the Palestinian Authority.
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. Captured soldier
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. In a gesture towards Mr Abbas, Ms Rice said Palestinian "humiliations" under Israel's 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. Our experience with these meetings are that they justify more Israeli aggression against our people Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahhar
US support Mr Abbas, for his part, said efforts to form a unity government with the Hamas militant group had reached a dead end - a statement likely to please his American guest.
Ms Rice has been accompanying US President George W Bush in talks in Amman, Jordan, with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. Afterwards, Ms Rice travelled on to Jerusalem for talks with Mr Olmert and her Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni.
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. She was briefed on efforts to release an Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian militants in June in a move that sparked four months of bitter conflict in the Gaza Strip.
In Amman, Mr Bush also appealed for support for Mr Abbas, who is popularly known as Abu Mazen. She praised Mr Olmert's speech on Monday as "very positive" and "a hand reaching out to a Palestinian partner".
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. Israeli officials say extending the ceasefire to the West Bank and easing restrictions on Palestinians there depends on what happens in the Gaza Strip.
"And he deserves support in peeling his government away from those who do not recognise Israel's right to exist." Unity efforts
The Gaza ceasefire deal was followed earlier this week by the Israeli government's abandonment of a unilateral approach relying on its military superiority. Earlier Ms Rice had attended a US-Iraqi summit in Jordan, where President George W Bush said the Palestinian Authority President Abbas deserved global support for his political programme.
Prime Minister Olmert offered economic and humanitarian incentives if Palestinians ended violence, released a captive Israeli soldier and resumed peace negotiations. Mr Abbas has been holding lengthy negotiations to replace the current government, led by Hamas, with a unity coalition willing to enter talks with Israel.
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 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.
In his address on Monday, Mr Olmert offered economic and humanitarian incentives if Palestinians ended violence, released the captive Israeli soldier and resumed peace negotiations.