MIDDLE EAST:US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice set out a new approach yesterday to reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, saying she would pursue parallel talks with the two parties.
"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," Dr Rice said at a news conference with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
She said she hoped to find a common agenda between both sides, deeply divided over the recent establishment of a Palestinian unity government, that would eventually lead to the creation of a Palestinian state.
Dr Rice planned to see Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert later in the day and again today, after returning from Amman and a second round of talks with Mr Abbas, who will be visiting the Jordanian capital.
She has been touring the Middle East, trying to persuade Arab governments to make a peace plan they ratified in 2002 more attractive to Israel by adding what she calls "active diplomacy" - seen as code for early contacts with Israelis.
Mr Abbas formed a unity government with Hamas Islamists earlier this month.
Israel and the quartet of Middle East negotiators - the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia - have demanded the Palestinian government recognise Israel, renounce violence and accept existing interim peace deals.