Rice: Mideast peace plan in jeopardy
US secretary of state tells House committee 'without a serious political prospect for the Palestinians we will lose the window for a two-state solution'; blames Iran for fanning flames in the region
The United States is pressing Israel and the Palestinian Authority to complete the drafting of a joint declaration of principles that would allow President George W. Bush to send out more invitations to the upcoming Annapolis peace conference.
On a recent tour of the Middle East, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice lobbied hard for top-level Arab involvement at the conference in Maryland, which is expected to be attended by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
"The timing comes down to what it is we need to do to give forces of moderation a boost and defeat the forces of extremism," she told the House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday.
Rice blamed Iran for fanning the flames in the region, including what she called "troubling" new support for Hamas militants.
"Our concern is growing that without a serious political prospect for the Palestinians that gives to moderate leaders a horizon that they can show to their people that indeed there is a two-state solution that is possible, we will lose the window for a two-state solution," the secretary of state said.
'We are exchanging ideas'
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Rice was scheduled visit Jerusalem and Ramallah November 4-6 to support the "serious effort underway to draft a joint document that could lay the foundation for negotiations" between Israel and the Palestinians.
The secretary of state's visit will be preceded by National Security Advisor Stephan Hadley's arrival in the region, along with his deputy Elliott Abrams and Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch.
Officials in Jerusalem said Olmert and Abbas were expected to meet in the coming days, possibly as early as Friday to try to bridge the gaps in the talks over the joint declaration.
Palestinian negotiator and senior Abbas aide Saeb Erekat told Reuters on Thursday the teams have yet to start drafting the document. "We are exchanging ideas on many issues in hope of being able to reach the joint document," he said.
The joint document is meant to serve as a basis for the statehood talks that Erekat has said should be concluded by August, before the US presidential race heats up.
