Condoleezza Rice
Photo: Reuters
Rice on way to Middle East tour
U.S. Secretary of State will meet with senior officials from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Abu-Dhabi, hopes to prevent support for Hamas
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is
expected to arrive in Egypt Tuesday, marking the start of a Middle East touch during which she will also visit Saudi Arabia and Abu-Dhabi.
The secretary of state will meet senior officials and discuss the Hamas takeover of the Palestinian parliament, and the Iranian issue.
After arriving in Egypt, Rice will hold a closed-door meeting with Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman, who called on Hamas to recognize Israel and abandon violence shortly after the results of the PA elections became known.
Rice will also meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, as well as Egypt's foreign minister.
'Rice to request support from moderate Arab states'
She will demand that the Egyptians join the U.S. in refusing to transfer funds to the PA, as long as Hamas does not meet the requirements established by the international community.
Last week, Rice told Arab journalists in Washington that every country thinking of funding a Hamas-led PA government should think about the consequences of such a step on the Middle East and the peace process.
She is expected to bring the same message to the king of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah al-Aziz, as well as the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faysal Bin-Abd al-Aziz Al Saud when Rice lands in Riyad on Wednesday.
The secretary of state will speak to the Saudis about their direct funding of Hamas. Although Saudi Arabia ceased funding Hamas a few years ago, senior U.S. officials believe that Hamas receives large amounts of money from private Saudi donors and charity organizations.
Rice will also raise the Iranian issue, and is expected to request support from moderate Arab states and backing for the American-European pressure on Iran, in order to end its nuclear program.
