Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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September 19, 2007

Rice Begins Mideast Peace Mission
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=198ED87:A6F02AD83191E1602D86D19CBA0908A49574F7DCC14957C0 Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice to lay groundwork for planned US-sponsored conference
on Israeli-Palestinian peace and Palestinian statehood Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice has begun a two-day peace mission to the Middle
East. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, the talks
will focus on the establishment of a Palestinian state.







Condoleezza Rice (file photo)

Secretary Rice meets with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem, Wednesday,
before heading to the West Bank, Thursday, for talks with Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas. The parties are hammering out a document on
Palestinian statehood to be presented at an international peace
conference in the United States, probably in November.

Israeli spokesman Mark Regev says Israel wants to strengthen the Abbas
government in the West Bank, after the Islamic militant group Hamas
seized control of the Gaza Strip in a Palestinian civil war, three
months ago.

"Obviously we deal with the legitimate Palestinian government and the
current Palestinian government is headed by people who are moderate,
people who are pragmatic and people who are committed to peace. And we
want to work with them," he said.

But Israel and the Palestinians have drastically different visions for
the document on Palestinian statehood. Israel wants a vague
declaration of principles. The Palestinians want commitments on final
status issues, such as Jerusalem, refugees and borders. President
Abbas says that would be a breakthrough.

"If we conclude it, I believe that when we present it to the
international conference it will be a good sign to reach to the peace
treaty with the Israelis," he said.

However, the Palestinians are threatening not to attend the peace
conference if Israel does not go beyond vague declarations.

During her brief visit here, Secretary of State Rice will try to
bridge the gaps.


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