Rice to meet Abbas in West Bank

Updated 11.42 Thu Aug 02 2007

Keywords: Palestine, Israel, Mahmoud Abbas, Condoleezza Rice

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is due to meet President Mahmoud Abbas to show US support for the Fatah leader.

Earlier, she met Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in the West Bank city of Ramallah ahead of talks with Mr Abbas and made clear she has faith in the Fatah boss, saying he is empowered to negotiate on behalf of all Palestinians.

Dr Rice is set to sign an agreement with Fatah to provide around $80 million (£39.4 million) in US funding for Mr Abbas's security forces with set terms and conditions under which it can be used

Dr Rice said: "We do have in the Palestinian territories a government that is devoted to the international principles, the foundational principles for peace and this is an opportunity that should not be missed."

She is set to sign an agreement with Fatah to provide around $80 million (£39.4 million) in US funding for Mr Abbas's security forces with set terms and conditions under which it can be used.

On Wednesday, she met Israeli leaders and her West Bank visit ends a four-day trip to the Middle East during which Saudi backing was won for a proposed peace conference later this year.

The Palestinian territories are divided between Islamist Hamas, which seized the Gaza Strip in June, and Mr Abbas's secular Fatah whose forces dominate the West Bank.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is unpopular with his own voters, told Dr Rice during dinner that Hamas has to be "kept out of the game" as Israel explores new co-operation with the Palestinians.

Mr Abbas wants negotiations over the future of Jerusalem, Palestinian state borders and the right of return of refugees but Israel refuses to be committed to the demands at this stage.

Israeli officials have instead talked about the possibility of "agreed principles" with the Fatah leader for establishing a Palestinian state.

One senior Israeli government official said his country is prepared to begin discussing border issues in general terms with Mr Abbas, but saw the fate of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees as too sensitive for the time being.

"We're willing to move forward on borders. The government is willing to discuss that," the official said.