Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Israel's chief negotiator with the Palestinian Authority (PA), is to brief American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Thursday on negotiations with the PA. She is visiting the United States to attend the funeral of Congressman Tom Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor to be elected to Congress. Lantos, who was a staunch supporter of Israel and a critic of Saudi Arabia-sponsored terrorism, died on Monday from cancer.
Livni met with her PA counterpart Ahmed Qureia Monday and Tuesday, but details of the talks have been clouded in differing reports concerning the status of Jerusalem. One Israeli newspaper has reported she has discussed with the PA the proposal to divide the capital, in direct violation of statements by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to the Shas party that the PA has agreed to table the issue until there is an agreement on final borders.