Rice urges resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks
Palestine-Israel-USA, Politics, 3/5/2008

Suspending negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians plays into the hands of those who want the peace process derailed and prolongs the day when there can be a two-state solution, says US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"Negotiations are going to have to be able to withstand the efforts of rejectionists to upset them, to create chaos and violence, so that people react by deciding not to negotiate," Rice said in a March 3 briefing in Cairo, Egypt. "That's the game of those who don't want to see a Palestinian state established."

Rice urged Palestinian leaders to restart peace talks with Israeli leaders during a March 4 visit to the West Bank city of Ramallah. Talks were suspended in the wake of an Israeli military response to continued rocket attacks from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

Israeli ground forces withdrew from Gaza March 4 after a two-day offensive to stop Hamas terrorists from targeting neighboring Israeli communities. More than 100 Gazans were killed in the violence, including civilians caught in the crossfire, and Israel continues air patrols to monitor for additional Hamas attacks.

"The United States, of course, understands Israel's right to defend itself, but Israel needs to be very cognizant of the effects of its operations on innocent people," she said. "There should really be a very strong effort to spare innocent lives."

Rice's three-day trip though the region, with stops in Egypt, Israel and the West Bank Palestinian territories, is intended to be an opportunity to support Israeli and Palestinian leaders as they continue progress toward a comprehensive peace deal that will lay the groundwork for a Palestinian state by the end of 2008.

"The longer the negotiations are not ongoing or the longer that they are suspended, the more it is a victory for those who don't want to see a two-state solution," she said.

Following a March 4 meeting with Rice in Ramallah, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated the Palestinian Authority's commitment to peace.

Rice rejected Hamas claims of victory following the Israeli withdrawal. "The only thing that Hamas can lay claim to is fomenting instability and violence. That's what Hamas can lay claim to. And if they consider that a victory, then that's what they've done: They've promoted instability, they've promoted violence. They're trying to arrest progress toward a Palestinian state."

Previous Stories:
  US reaction to Israeli announcement of new buildings on disputed land   (2/12/2008)
  US criticises Israeli homes plan   (12/11/2007)
  Support for mideast peace goes beyond Annapolis conference   (12/11/2007)

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