United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice opened a four-day visit to the Middle East Thursday afternoon by saying that it is important for the just-elected US government and the Israeli one to be chosen in February to maintain momentum and support for negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian authority. Secretary Rice did everything but concede that the goal of a deal between the two sides is no longer possible by the end of the year.

It is Dr. Rice's eighth visit to the area since last November's Annapolis conference, which set up the deadline.