Rice visit, pressing for recognition of Israel stumbling block
Palestine-Israel-USA, Politics, 2/21/2007

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier today warned of unrealistic expectations in the Mideast peace process following the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian talks.

Speaking at a joint news conference with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ahead of the meeting of the Mideast quartet in Berlin, Steinmeier stressed that the renewed engagement of the quartet was "very important." "We have to display a great deal of realism...," he added.

Steinmeier hailed as "progress" the latest round of talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The German minister said mutual trust was "urgently needed in the rapprochement process" between Israelis and Palestinians.

Steinmeier stressed the Mideast quartet remains determined to "use this chance."

As twin presidents of the European Union and G-8 group of industrialized countries, Germany has spearheaded efforts to revive the Mideast quartet.

Meanwhile, Rice adopted a wait-and-see attitude on the formation of the Palestinian unity government.

The three-way meeting in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was "useful and productive" in paving the way for further efforts toward an Israeli-Palestinian peace, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says.

In a brief statement delivered after the February 19 meeting she had characterized in advance as "informal discussions" rather than negotiations, Rice said the three participants "affirmed our commitment to a two-state solution, agreed that a Palestinian state cannot be born of violence and terror, and reiterated our acceptance of previous agreements and obligations," including the Roadmap to Middle East peace.

And, she said, Olmert and Abbas had discussed how to move forward on mutual obligations aimed at implementing the first phase of the road map.

Rice said the two had agreed to meet again soon, and "reiterated their desire for American participation and leadership in facilitating efforts to overcome obstacles, rally regional and international support, and move forward toward peace."

Accordingly, she said, she would be returning to the region soon herself.

Rice emphasized that the principles of the Mideast quartet of 2003 which include the recognition of Israel, renouncing violence and accepting all past peace agreements between Israelis and Palestinians remained valid.

Rice said these principles are fundamental to the peace process and the eventual creation of a Palestinian state. "When one talks about a political horizon, when one talks about peace between Israelis and Palestinians, it has to be on the basis of internationally accepted principles. How can it be that you will have talks about peace if one party does not accept the right of the other party to exist? How can it be that you have discussions about peace when a party will not renounce violence?" she asked.

Rice expressed support for Abbas, whom she said is "representative of the broad desire of the Palestinian people to live in peace and to live in security," and she said the United States would continue to support those who believe in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process as set forth in the Roadmap.

In an interview with CNN, Rice defended the international community’s efforts to strengthen Abbas’ security forces as part of a plan to bring greater stability and security to the Palestinian Territories. "When you have forces that can be unitary and can be responsive to the authority of the president, then you have the chance for real peace and security," she said. "We want to help to build Palestinian security forces that can be part of the solution, not part of the problem, and that can fight terror but can also bring security for the Palestinian people."

The secretary also urged Arab states to engage in the Middle East peace process, saying that "when there is a resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, everybody in the region … will be more secure."

Israel's foreign ministry yesterday quoted Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni saying "The understandings recently reached between the Hamas and Abu Mazen are a disappointment for all those who supported the process aimed at isolating the Palestinian extremists from the moderates and creating an alternative leadership for the Palestinian Authority."

Previous Stories:
  Rice: peace process can defuse Palestinian violence   (2/4/2007)
  Rice: intensive diplomacy ahead for the middle east   (1/20/2007)
  EU leaders seek Middle East Quartet meeting   (1/6/2007)
  PLO praises Baker-Hamilton report   (12/9/2006)
  Anti-Zionist Jewish rabbi slams Germany for supporting Israel   (10/23/2006)
  Germany paid 63 billion euros in compensation to victims of Nazi regime   (8/28/2006)

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