U.S. and Israeli dissatisfaction with a Palestinian power-sharing deal clouded talks Monday among Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Israel's prime minister and the Palestinian president. According to the AP, there were low expectations from the talks.
The Fatah-Hamas deal fall short of international conditions for acceptance and desperately needed funding. The international community has demanded that any Palestinian government recognize Israel, accept previous peace deals and renounce violence, but the deal agreed earlier this month in Mecca only pledges to "respect" past peace agreements.
Following the meeting, Rice said she would return soon to the Middle East to push forward with attempts to restart peace making. "The president and prime minister agreed that they would meet together again soon. They reiterated their desire for American participation and leadership to overcome obstacles, rally regional and international support and move forward toward peace. In that vein, I expect to return to the region soon," Rice said.
"All three of us affirmed our commitment to a two-state solution, agreed that a Palestinian state cannot be born of violence and terror and reiterated our acceptance of previous commitments and obligations including the road map."
Despite such commitments, Rice reported no progress in restarting talks, which broke down more than six years ago. Neither Abbas nor Olmert joined Rice as she delivered her brief statement.
Rice told U.S. journalists on Sunday night that Washington would "withhold judgment" on the coalition agreement until it was fleshed out. But she acknowledged that the outlines didn't meet the international conditions presented by the Quartet of Mideast negotiators - the U.S., European Union, U.N. and Russia. "If there's going to be a Palestinian state, then the Quartet principles would obviously have to be recognized because ... this is the foundation for peace," she said.
"I haven't seen anything to date that suggests that this is a government that's going to meet the Quartet's principles, but you know ... we will see once the government is formed," she said.
In talks with Rice on Sunday, Abbas said the Mecca accord was an achievement, adding it has helped moderate Hamas.
