The time has come for establishing a Palestinian state and itÂ’s in the interest of the US to do so, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday in one of her most forceful statements yet on the issue.
Israeli and Palestinian negotiation teams are drafting a joint declaration of principles that may offer solutions to some of the core issues of the final status agreement, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Rice.
Abbas and Rice met in Ramallah to discuss issues ahead of the US-sponsored Mideast peace conference and held a joint press conference following the meeting.
The comments from Rice suggested that the Bush administration is determined to try to bridge the wide gaps between Israel and the Palestinians. The gathering is expected to take place next month, though a date hasnÂ’t been announced. Amid such uncertainty, moderate Arab countries, whose participation is widely viewed as critical, have not committed to attending. |