U.S. Secretary of State Rice: Now Is Time for Palestinian State

[KenH]

Rice: Now Is Time for Palestinian State
By Matthew Lee

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Saying the time is now for a Palestinian state, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday prodded Israel and the Palestinians to agree at a U.S.-sponsored conference this fall on how and when to start formal peace talks.

In one of her strongest statements yet on the issue, Rice declared that creation of a Palestinian state is a key U.S. interest and urged the two sides to drop contentious demands and reach consensus on a substantive joint statement ahead of the international conference.

"Frankly, it's time for the establishment of a Palestinian state," Rice told a news conference with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who she saw on the second of a four-day intense Middle East shuttle diplomacy mission.

"The United States sees the establishment of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution as absolutely essential for the future, not just of Palestinians and Israelis but also for the Middle East and indeed to American interests," she said.

- rest at http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iKCr8DwvfiKaLHWMYf8HZoFZoICwD8S9QOUO0

 

[hillclimber1]

The administration is wrong on this, in the worst way. The PLO has not kept a single treaty with Israel, and now they are being given a country with all it's perks. I just don't understand GWB in many of these issues.

How in the world can peace be achieved with a new nation who's officials don't know the truth from a lie, and who are sworn to sweep Israel into the Mediterranean Sea.