This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/5408624.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
US to press Israel on Gaza curbs Scant gains in Rice Israel talks
(about 3 hours later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to press Israeli ministers to ease restrictions on Gaza's borders, on the latest leg of her regional tour. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has held talks with Israeli ministers in Jerusalem, on the latest leg of her regional tour.
The meetings follow separate talks with Israeli PM Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. She had been expected to press Israel to ease restrictions on Gaza's borders.
Ms Rice has pledged to help to ease the worsening plight of the Palestinians. Ms Rice gave no statement after the talks, but Israeli military sources said three crossings had reopened.
They have been suffering from sanctions imposed by Israel and Western states because the Hamas-led government refuses to recognise Israel. A BBC correspondent says it is a small triumph on a trip that has yielded little in the way of concrete steps towards peace talks.
Ms Rice had no contact with Hamas officials during her trip, which is aimed at reinforcing support for what the US views as moderate Arab leaders. The crossings from Gaza into Israel and Egypt are frequently sealed for long periods over Israeli security fears, preventing travel for most Palestinians and causing shortages of essential supplies.
She repeated her call for the Palestinians to form a government that would accept international principles for re-starting the Middle East peace process. After meeting Ms Rice, Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz said Israel intended to "step up the pace with respect to everything related to the crossings".
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas accused the US diplomat of seeking to "rearrange" the region to suit US and Israeli interests. A US State Department official said Israel had agreed to open the Gaza-Egypt border crossing at regular intervals during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the Associated Press reported.
Talks fail An Israeli military source said that the three crossings - Rafah, Karni and Sufa - had been reopened.
Ms Rice is expected to meet Israel's Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, and the Defence Minister, Amir Peretz, on Thursday. In November 2005, Ms Rice brokered a deal under which the Palestinians would control the Rafah crossing, monitored by EU observers, and Israel would ease controls on the movement of goods.
Ms Rice said the US admired Mr Abbas' leadership Boosting moderates
The meetings follow separate talks with Israeli PM Ehud Olmert and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
Ms Rice said the US admired Mr Abbas' leadershipMs Rice had pledged to help ease the worsening plight of the Palestinians, who are suffering from sanctions imposed by Israel and Western states because of the governing Hamas movement's refusal to recognise Israel.
She met Israel's Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, as well as Mr Peretz on Thursday, but she did not speak to the media.
There was no contact with Hamas officials during her trip, which was aimed at reinforcing support for what the US views as moderate Arab leaders.
Earlier, Ms Rice repeated her call for the Palestinians to form a government that would accept international principles for re-starting the Middle East peace process.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas accused Washington's top diplomat of seeking to "rearrange" the region to suit US and Israeli interests.
The BBC's state department correspondent Jonathan Beale says Ms Rice is trying to persuade Israel to make small concessions to bolster the position of the beleaguered Mr Abbas.The BBC's state department correspondent Jonathan Beale says Ms Rice is trying to persuade Israel to make small concessions to bolster the position of the beleaguered Mr Abbas.
Issues on the agenda include an easing of border restrictions for the Palestinians and beefing up Mr Abbas's presidential guard, which the US says has proved an effective security force.
According to Israeli officials quoted by the Reuters news agency, Mr Olmert told Ms Rice Israel plans to open its main commercial border post with Gaza shortly.
The crossing at Karni is frequently sealed over Israeli security fears, causing shortages of essential supplies in Gaza.
Ms Rice dined with Mr Olmert on Wednesday following talks with Mr Abbas in the West Bank, when she said the US had "great admiration" for the Palestinian leader's role.Ms Rice dined with Mr Olmert on Wednesday following talks with Mr Abbas in the West Bank, when she said the US had "great admiration" for the Palestinian leader's role.
Her comments came after Mr Abbas said talks with Hamas on forming a national unity government had collapsed.Her comments came after Mr Abbas said talks with Hamas on forming a national unity government had collapsed.
The Palestinian Authority has faced a political crisis since Hamas won elections in January. Its refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence triggered a Western boycott.
Over the past month, Mr Abbas has been seeking to form a coalition government including Hamas and his more moderate Fatah party, on a platform which would be acceptable to the international community.