JERUSALEM, Sept. 19 Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni reiterated their hope for advancing the formation of a Palestinian state.
The United States wants "to be as supportive as possible of this bilateral dialogue," Rice said during a joint news briefing in Jerusalem.
Livni said discussions considered the "need to reach an understanding between Israel and the Palestinians ... on the widest common ground, which is possible I hope."
Rice is in the Middle East for discussions with Israeli and Palestinian officials about the formation of a Palestinian state. Meetings are planned with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas -- whom the Israeli and U.S. governments recognize as the Palestinian leader despite the Hamas majority in Parliament.
The two also restated their positions regarding the Israeli Parliament voting to declare Gaza -- part of an envisioned Palestinian state -- an "enemy entity," and to impose sanctions. Rice said the United States would not "abandon" innocent Palestinians living in Gaza, but considers the militant Hamas "hostile."
Livni said Israeli leaders hope the Gaza situation improves and that "the Palestinians understand that supporting these kind of terrorists are not going to help them."
Copyright 2007 by UPI
