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Photo: Reuters
Rice: Her third trip to Israel in less than 3 months
Photo: Reuters

Rice to visit Israel, PA

U.S. Secretary of State set to arrive in Israel following recent surge of violence, in bid to ensure implementation of pullout plan and return calm to region

WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is scheduled to visit Israel and the Palestinian Authority on either Thursday or Friday, in an effort to bring calm to the region and allow the pullout to be carried out as planned.

 

Rice spoke to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas Friday and demanded he effectively fight terror. She also talked with Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and urged him to act to restore calm.

 

Rice has used telephone diplomacy in the past few days, in a bid to keep Israel and the Palestinians on track to an orderly withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank, and to encourage Palestinian leaders to find and prosecute terrorists.

  

Rice has decided to make her third trip in less than three months to Israel and the Palestinian territories, as the 5-month-old truce has apparently collapsed following the Netanya mall terror attack, IAF air strikes and Qassam rocket attacks in recent days.

 

'A potentially historic moment'

 

The U.S. Administration views the Palestinians as responsible for the current decline in the situation and has relayed harsh messages to Abbas, urging him to destroy terror infrastructures and demonstrate leadership.

 

With the pullout a month away, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said all parties must make the maximum effort to ensure the pullout process is a success.

 

"It's a potentially historic moment, and the parties should seize the opportunity to realize all the potential from this disengagement,'' he said, indicating Rice also wants to look beyond this summer's withdrawal.

 

In direct reference to the PA, McCormack said it is Abbas and the PA’s responsibility to take every step possible to ensure a feeling of peace and freedom from terror - issues the Palestinian population chose by voting for Abbas as leader.

 

Assistant Secretary of State David Welch, who was in the Egypt, backed up Rice's telephone call in a meeting Wednesday with Abbas. 

 

- Associated Press contributed to the report

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.16.05, 09:15
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