US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice set out a new approach on Sunday to reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, saying she would pursue "parallel" talks with the two parties on a common agenda in order to “move forward on forming a Palestinian state.”
"Now we are in a situation in which I think a bilateral approach, in which I talk in parallel to the parties ... Is the best way," Rice said at a news conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Rice also said all the parties need to have a “destination in mind” to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Rice’s meeting with Abbas was their first meeting since the Islamic militant Hamas and Abbas’ more moderate Fatah Party formed a new coalition government last week.
'We are working to secure Shalit's release'
In speaking of finding a resolution to the decades-old conflict, Rice seems to have broken with Israel,
whichhas said it would not conduct peace talks with Abbas now that he has joined forces with Hamas.
Rice said she would meet twice with both Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during her fourth trip to the region in as many months.
She added that US President George W. Bush feels that the creation of a Palestinian state and peace between the two sides are critical issues on the international agenda.
Abbas said following the meeting that the Palestinians “are working to secure (kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad) Shalit's release and are sure he's alive and in good shape."
The president added that he and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had brainstormed ideas on how to advance the issue.
News agencies contributed to the report