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Rice is in Israel as part of her Middle East tour. (AP)
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners November 14, 2005 |
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U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for making the first move to pull Israeli troops and settlers out of the long-occupied Gaza Strip.
Addressing Sharon at a U.S.-Israeli symposium Sunday, Rice struck an unusually personal tone, saying: "President Bush and I admire your personal courage, your leadership and the crucial contribution to peace that you are making."
The chief U.S. diplomat also had encouraging words for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, but added an indirect warning that he must do more to disarm and counter the militant group Hamas. The United States lists Hamas as a terrorist organization, but the group has recently developed a strong political wing that is a formidable opponent for Abbas.
Meanwhile, in an overnight raid Monday, Israeli troops killed Hamas' top military commander in the northern West Bank, Amjad Hanawi, according to Palestinian medical officials and neighbors. Israeli military officials confirmed a shooting incident but gave no identities.
The killing threatened to raise tensions during Rice's visit.
It came before Rice met with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom. Going into their private meeting, Rice said she would "have discussions about how to move forward on the joint agenda to try and make the disengagement of Gaza work for all so that we can continue our progress toward two states living side by side."
Shalom added: "She's coming also to try and narrow the gap between Israel and the Palestinians and to help us strengthen our relations with the Arab and Muslim world."
"Dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism is essential because in the final analysis no democratic government can tolerate armed parties with one foot in the realm of politics and one foot in the camp of terrorism," Rice said at Sunday's symposium.
At her separate meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders Monday, she was expected to press both sides for greater cooperation to capitalize on what she has repeatedly called a window for peace opened by the Gaza withdrawal.
International envoy James Wolfensohn warned Sunday that time is running out for Israel and the Palestinians to wrap up a deal on opening the Gaza Strip's border crossings. He said it would be a "tragedy" if an agreement was not reached soon.
The fate of the border crossings is one of the most important unresolved issues in the wake of Israel's unilateral withdrawal from Gaza in September, after three decades in control. Israel closed Gaza's border with Egypt shortly before the pullout and has restricted the movement of cargo into Israel, the main market for Palestinian goods.
The Palestinians say reopening the crossings is essential to rebuilding Gaza's shattered economy, especially with the harvest season approaching. Israel first wants assurances that weapons and militants will not enter Gaza.
Wolfensohn has brokered months of talks on the issue and had hoped to have a deal in time for Rice's visit.
"I think it will be a tragedy for both sides if that opportunity is not done, but can I give you a guarantee? No," Wolfensohn said. "I can only tell you that we are clear in what we are trying to do, and in the next few days, we will know whether we are successful or not."
The AP contributed to this report.
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