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| Rice warns Israel on peace talks | Rice warns Israel on peace talks |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has made a rare warning to Israel not to do anything that might erode confidence in the peace process. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has made a rare warning to Israel not to do anything that might erode confidence in the peace process. |
| At the start of her latest Middle East visit, Ms Rice told reporters Israel's revival of a West Bank road-building project could hamper negotiations. | At the start of her latest Middle East visit, Ms Rice told reporters Israel's revival of a West Bank road-building project could hamper negotiations. |
| She met Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday. | She met Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday. |
| Ms Rice is trying to pave the way for a US peace conference next month. | Ms Rice is trying to pave the way for a US peace conference next month. |
| Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have been trying to produce a joint document agreeing a framework for the November summit. | Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have been trying to produce a joint document agreeing a framework for the November summit. |
| 'Breakthrough unlikely' | 'Breakthrough unlikely' |
| Ms Rice, who also met Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday, told journalists her trip was unlikely to produce a breakthrough on the statement. | Ms Rice, who also met Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday, told journalists her trip was unlikely to produce a breakthrough on the statement. |
| We have to be very careful as we are trying to move toward the establishment of a Palestinian state about actions and statements that erode confidence Condoleezza Rice | We have to be very careful as we are trying to move toward the establishment of a Palestinian state about actions and statements that erode confidence Condoleezza Rice |
| But the acting Palestinian foreign minister warned that without a framework jointly agreed with Israel setting out specific differences, they would not attend the conference. | But the acting Palestinian foreign minister warned that without a framework jointly agreed with Israel setting out specific differences, they would not attend the conference. |
| Israel, however, wants a more general statement and Mr Olmert's spokeswoman said the prime minister did not believe a joint document was a precondition for the summit. | |
| Responding to a question about Israeli confiscation of Arab land last week, Ms Rice told reporters on the plane to Tel Aviv the timing of the move had been too sensitive. | Responding to a question about Israeli confiscation of Arab land last week, Ms Rice told reporters on the plane to Tel Aviv the timing of the move had been too sensitive. |
| "The point that I will be making is that we have to be very careful as we are trying to move toward the establishment of a Palestinian state about actions and statements that erode confidence," Ms Rice said. | "The point that I will be making is that we have to be very careful as we are trying to move toward the establishment of a Palestinian state about actions and statements that erode confidence," Ms Rice said. |
| Israel insists the land was earmarked for a road-building project to help connect Palestinian communities. | Israel insists the land was earmarked for a road-building project to help connect Palestinian communities. |
| But Palestinians claim it is designed to increase Israeli control over the West Bank. | But Palestinians claim it is designed to increase Israeli control over the West Bank. |
| Scepticism | Scepticism |
| Also on Sunday, Mr Olmert appointed Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni as Israeli chief negotiator on the conference. | Also on Sunday, Mr Olmert appointed Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni as Israeli chief negotiator on the conference. |
| Ms Livni has previously warned against moving too quickly towards an agreement. | Ms Livni has previously warned against moving too quickly towards an agreement. |
| Ms Rice will also visit Egypt, and later meet Jordan's King Abdullah in London on her latest round of shuttle diplomacy. | Ms Rice will also visit Egypt, and later meet Jordan's King Abdullah in London on her latest round of shuttle diplomacy. |
| Palestinians and Israelis have said the peace talks must succeed | Palestinians and Israelis have said the peace talks must succeed |
| Correspondents say there is growing scepticism among Arab governments about next month's conference. | Correspondents say there is growing scepticism among Arab governments about next month's conference. |
| Washington hopes for wide Arab participation. But Syria has already said it is unlikely to attend unless its concerns over the Golan Heights are on the agenda. | Washington hopes for wide Arab participation. But Syria has already said it is unlikely to attend unless its concerns over the Golan Heights are on the agenda. |
| Invitations for the gathering - scheduled to take place in Annapolis, Maryland - have not been sent out yet because so much remains to be finalised. | Invitations for the gathering - scheduled to take place in Annapolis, Maryland - have not been sent out yet because so much remains to be finalised. |
| Analysts say key bones of contention will include the shape of final borders, sovereignty over Jerusalem and a solution for Palestinians who lost their homes in the war that followed Israel's creation in 1948. | Analysts say key bones of contention will include the shape of final borders, sovereignty over Jerusalem and a solution for Palestinians who lost their homes in the war that followed Israel's creation in 1948. |
| Ms Rice arrived in the Middle East after visiting Moscow, where talks on US plans for a missile shield in Eastern Europe broke down after Russian President Vladimir Putin made clear his anger over the project. | Ms Rice arrived in the Middle East after visiting Moscow, where talks on US plans for a missile shield in Eastern Europe broke down after Russian President Vladimir Putin made clear his anger over the project. |