United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is slated to visit Israel next week, according to American sources. It had been feared the visit would be delayed because of Russia's war with Georgia.

The trip, which will include meetings with senior Palestinian Authority officials as well as Israeli leaders, is part of ongoing American efforts to promote an agreement between the two sides. Rice is pushing for an agreement-in-principle between the PA and Israel that will conform to the terms of the US-backed Road Map to Middle East Peace.