News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will return to the Middle East to advance Israeli-Palestinian Authority (PA) negotiations, PA negotiator Ahmed Qureia told reporters. The American and Israeli governments have not commented on the report, although the French news agency AFP reported that a source said she would visit on Monday.

Israeli and PA officials have been discussing issues that are locked in disagreement, and no substantial progress has been reported. The PA has complained that counter terrorist actions in Judea and Samaria are hampering PA efforts of forces to maintain control over terror. 

The suicide bombing in Dimona and the Kassam rocket attack on Sderot that left two brothers badly injured will provide further obstacles for Secretary Rice. Negotiations also are tied up over the status of Jerusalem, with the Shas party, a key Olmert coalition member, threatening to quit if Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni discuses the issue with the PA. Opposition critics have stated that she already has been discussing the topic with the PA.

The Kadima minister brought up a new obstacle in negotiations on Sunday when she stated that a final agreement for a new Arab state within Israel's current orders cannot include Gaza so long as Hamas rules