Israel, Palestinians urged to maximise peace effort
Speaking after talks with new Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas, the top US diplomat said she had been impressed by his efforts to put an end to the four year armed uprising and said Washington wanted to help him advance the peace process.
On a visit on the eve of a breakthrough peace summit in Egypt Tuesday, she also urged both the Israeli government to maximise its efforts to bring about peace, urging it not to take any unilateral measures to alter the status quo.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. "It is time for both parties to make maximum efforts to give this chance for peace a real chance," Rice said at a joint press conference with Abbas.
"I have been encouraged by my conversations here and (with) the prime minister in Israel that both sides understand the moment before them and their responsibilities."
The meeting was the highest level contact between the US and the top Palestinian leader in nearly three years and comes a day before Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon are to meet in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh today.
Increasing the United States' involvement in the Middle East peace process, President Bush has invited Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to separate meetings in the United States, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced yesterday.
Rice finished two days of meetings in Israel and the West Bank with announcements that both side have accepted the invitation and that the United States' partners in a four-nation coalition to promote Middle East peace would soon hold a meeting that would be the first since the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat gave new life to peace hopes between Israel and the Palestinians.
Bush may attend that meeting as well, Rice said. It was not clear when that meeting might happen.
Rice also said Lt. Gen. William Ward would be the Palestinian security coordinator.
"Making certain that the parties understand each other, and if necessary making certain that we understand," Rice said of his duties.
"The Palestinians will be the first to tell you that they need help," training, equipping and unifying their security forces, Rice said.
She said Ward will have direct line to her.
In another show of support for Abbas, who was elected as Arafat's successor on January 9, Rice announced plans for the fast-tracking of some 40 million dollars in funds for the Palestinian Authority over the next 90 days.
The Abbas invitation represents a significant shift from the US position in recent years when Bush viewed Arafat as a major impediment to peace. The Bush administration refused to deal directly with Arafat and peace negotiations stalled.
The administration of US President George W. Bush ended up shunning the late Palestinian Authority president Yasser Arafat before his death on November 11 which has heralded a new push for peace by Washington.
Rice said she had detected "faster progress under President Abbas's leadership" than had been seen for years.
His decision to deploy large numbers of security personnel in the Gaza Strip, resulting in a sharp downturn in violence had happened "in a matter of weeks".
Rice said "there was a lot of work ahead" but that she wanted to help by appointing a special coordinator to help put an end to attacks.
"The idea is to have someone who is responsible for helping the Palestinian and reform of their security, forces, for helping with monitoring" of efforts to put an end to attacks, she said.
She said the idea would not be to supplant activities of two sides which need to maintain "security cooperation that is bilateral, that is strong, that is robust".
But she said the United States is ready to help "and we will have therefore a security coordinator".
"It really is to provide a focal point for training, equipping, helping Palestinians build their forces and also for monitoring and if necessary to help the partners on security matters."
She added: "I am available... to be very active in this process as well as members of my staff and people from the White House because this is a time that we want to seize the opportunity."
The United States has been regularly accused of showing a pro-Israeli bias in the peace process.
But Rice, who held talks with Sharon on Sunday, said she had made clear her disquiet over both the route of the West Bank barrier and Israel's continued settlement activity.
"Israel has obligations too," she said.
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