Condoleezza Rice, on yet another short Middle East trip, has met so far this time with Foreign Minister Tzippy Livny, Defense Minister Amir Peretz, Strategic Threats Minister Avigdor Lieberman, as well as with Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen and Jordan's King Hussein. She will set off from Jerusalem today for Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Israeli security is suffering as a result of the visit, as nearly all IDF missions to arrest wanted terrorists have been temporarily called off. This, in an effort to prevent a repeat of the embarrassing episode of ten days ago, when IDF forces killed four Ramallah Arabs while trying to arrest a wanted terrorist - while Olmert was in the middle of an important meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
The commander of IDF operations in Yesha, Brig.-Gen. Ya'ir Golan, has given the order only to arrest Arabs when absolutely necessary. He has refused to approve several such operations in the past two days.
In her meeting with Olmert today, Rice was expected to remind him to fulfill the promises he made to Abu Mazen in his recent meeting with him. Olmert had told Abu Mazen he would remove many IDF checkpoints in Judea and Samaria, and would transfer 100 million shekels in tax monies to the PA.
Though IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz told the Cabinet on Sunday that the goodwill gestures are in the process of being fulfilled, Abu Mazen told Rice the same day that this is barely true. Abu Mazen said that most of the checkpoints and resulting long lines of traffic still remain, and that only 40 million shekels have been handed over.
Israeli defense sources say they cannot make major changes in the checkpoints because of the continued warnings of intentions to carry out terror attacks in Israel. Just three days ago, a large bomb designed to attack IDF forces was discovered in Jenin, in the northern Shomron, while yesterday, two terrorists were killed in northern Gaza while transporting explosives for use against Israelis.
In addition, Israel says it will release all the money it promised only after it is made totally clear where each shekel is going - and that it is not going to fund terrorism or violence.
Olmert, for his part, was to ask Rice for sharper sanctions against Iran as it hurtles towards a nuclear bomb.
Rice heard from Abu Mazen on Sunday that he is not interested in temporary arrangements, such as an interim PA state with temporary borders, but only in a permanent agreement.
Arutz-7's Haggai Huberman reports that Rice did not bring a new peace plan, but wished rather to hear both sides.
Israeli security is suffering as a result of the visit, as nearly all IDF missions to arrest wanted terrorists have been temporarily called off. This, in an effort to prevent a repeat of the embarrassing episode of ten days ago, when IDF forces killed four Ramallah Arabs while trying to arrest a wanted terrorist - while Olmert was in the middle of an important meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
The commander of IDF operations in Yesha, Brig.-Gen. Ya'ir Golan, has given the order only to arrest Arabs when absolutely necessary. He has refused to approve several such operations in the past two days.
In her meeting with Olmert today, Rice was expected to remind him to fulfill the promises he made to Abu Mazen in his recent meeting with him. Olmert had told Abu Mazen he would remove many IDF checkpoints in Judea and Samaria, and would transfer 100 million shekels in tax monies to the PA.
Though IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz told the Cabinet on Sunday that the goodwill gestures are in the process of being fulfilled, Abu Mazen told Rice the same day that this is barely true. Abu Mazen said that most of the checkpoints and resulting long lines of traffic still remain, and that only 40 million shekels have been handed over.
Israeli defense sources say they cannot make major changes in the checkpoints because of the continued warnings of intentions to carry out terror attacks in Israel. Just three days ago, a large bomb designed to attack IDF forces was discovered in Jenin, in the northern Shomron, while yesterday, two terrorists were killed in northern Gaza while transporting explosives for use against Israelis.
In addition, Israel says it will release all the money it promised only after it is made totally clear where each shekel is going - and that it is not going to fund terrorism or violence.
Olmert, for his part, was to ask Rice for sharper sanctions against Iran as it hurtles towards a nuclear bomb.
Rice heard from Abu Mazen on Sunday that he is not interested in temporary arrangements, such as an interim PA state with temporary borders, but only in a permanent agreement.
Arutz-7's Haggai Huberman reports that Rice did not bring a new peace plan, but wished rather to hear both sides.