israelinsider: diplomacy: Rice: Israel should end occupation of West Bank, focus on Negev, Galilee

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US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (file)


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Rice: Israel should end occupation of West Bank, focus on Negev, Galilee

By Israel Insider staff July 26, 2007

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Israel should end its occupation of the West Bank and focus on developing the Negev and Galilee, said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Wednesday in an interview with US-sponsored Al Hurra Television that broadcasts in the Middle East.

"I believe that Israel understands...that it has obligations that need to be met and need to be met now, because the future of Israel is not in the continued occupation of the West Bank. The future of Israel is in building a strong Israeli state in places like the Negev and Galilee," stated Rice.

Rice reiterated the thoughts expressed by U.S. President George W. Bush in a speech he made last week.

Rice will arrive in the region with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates next week and will meet with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf States. She expects that they will support and international conference on regional peace proposed by Bush last week.

"There is... much that can be done by Arab states to support the progress that the Palestinians and Israelis need to make...When the conflict ends it should end for all parties," she said.

Rice will be visiting Jerusalem, Ramallah and Iraq during her trip.

Rice's comments coincided with the historic visit of Egypt's Foreighn Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Jordan's Foreign Minister Abdelelah Al-Khatib to Jerusalem Wednesday. The foreign ministers came representing the Arab League to promote its peace initiative.

Rice also addressed Syria, saying it was "destabilizing" the region. According to Rice, the US would support Israeli-Syrian peace talks, but would give support to Syrian policies unless the country decided to "engage in policies that suggest that it is going to be a productive and constructive member of the international community."

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