Rice: We don't rule out unilateral steps

American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday said that the United States has not ruled out the possibility of supporting a unilateral withdrawal of Israel from the West Bank.

"I wouldn't on the face of it just say absolutely we don't think there's any value in what the Israelis are talking about," Rice told reporters in Germany, where she is visiting to hold talks on the issue of Iran's nuclear program. At the same time, the United States won't say now that it will back further unilateral moves until it knows more about them, Rice added.

Rice noted that Washington backed Israel's unilateral decision last year to pull out of the Gaza Strip, and that Israel ended up coordinating the withdrawal with the Palestinian Authority.

Referring to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Rice praised the leader as a man of peace.

"I think that he still is someone who stands for the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a peaceful resolution of Palestinian-Israeli conflict, someone who still stands for a rejection of terrorism and violence as a way to end that conflict," Rice told reporters on her plane en route to Germany, where she arrived early Thursday.

"I think there's considerable value in that," she said.

Rice said she will also discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the war in Iraq during meetings with leaders in Germany and France.

Olmert associates: We have Washington's support

Officials in Jerusalem welcomed the American diplomat's statements in Berlin. Source in Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office stated that Rice's words were the answer to all those claiming the U.S. objects to Olmert's political plan.

"All those who said Olmert did not have Washington's support were proved wrong," an associate of Kadima's leader said.

Notably, the Israeli diplomatic establishment has been maintaining constant touch with the American administration throughout the election campaign and after Election Day. On Thursday afternoon, Olmert is set to meet with American envoy David Welch.

According to diplomatic sources in the capital, the U.S. has been systematically supporting Israel's stance on the Palestinian issue, and mainly it's positions on the prerequisites for dialogue with a Hamas-led PA. The rest of the subjects for debate will be discussed during the planned summit between Olmert and American President George W. Bush in Washington, scheduled for after the coalition has been assembled.