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Rice not going for 'big bang'
25/03/2007 23:09 - (SA)
Ramallah - US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice met separately on Sunday with Palestinians and
Israelis to gauge the chances of peace talks, but said she was
not striving for a "big bang" breakthrough.
Rice visited the West Bank city of Ramallah to talk to
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas before heading to dinner
with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the first of what may
be a series of back-and-forth talks with the two.
Making her fourth visit in four months, Rice is talking to
them separately because Olmert has ruled out engaging Abbas on
peace since the Fatah member formed a Palestinian unity
government with the Islamist Hamas faction.
Her best hope for the trip is that the two sides will agree
to separate, but "parallel", discussions on a common set of issues that could eventually lead to direct negotiations.
"You need to prepare the ground well, you need to spend time
with the parties. You need to understand what is tolerable (for)
each side," Rice said at a news conference with Abbas. 'Step by step'
Speaking to American reporters before dining with Olmert,
Rice acknowledged her approach was cautious and said the chances
for quick, dramatic progress were low.
"My approach has been, I admit, careful. It's been step by
step. "I have not been willing to try for the big bang. I don't
think that that's where we are," she said.
"The question here isn't speed. The question is trying to
really move forward toward the establishment of a Palestinian
state."
Analysts doubt Rice can make much progress, given Olmert's
political weakness - one poll this month showed he would win as
little as 3% of the vote if an election were held
immediately, and the divisions among the Palestinians.
- Reuters
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