U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice declared Monday that she hopes to facilitate, not take over talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Rice told reporters at a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni that she does not want to control the talks which began in December but have already reached an impasse.

"I do not intend by any means to take control of the Palestinian-Israeli bilateral dialogue. It is extremely important that it continue. I made that clear the last time I was here. But my role is to assist the parties, and I have been doing it this time in parallel and I think that is good way to do it, to explore the issues before them, the possibilities of a political horizon - but also concrete issues of how to deal with their daily lives," she said.

Livni echoed Rice’s statement; both women were clearly taking care not to make any commitments other than to continue talks.

"I do believe, as Secretary Rice said, that there are a lot of things, what we call the political horizons - things that we can discuss in order to find the common denominator and the mutual interests between Israel and the Palestinians,” said Livni, “ those who want to reach this goal, to achieve this goal of two states living side-by-side in peace and security, of course, to Israel," said Livni, "and we have to explore it. It is part of our responsibility to our people."

The most recent meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and PA Chairman and Fatah faction leader Mahmoud Abbas reportedly ended in a shouting match.

"I do not intend by any means to take control of the Palestinian-Israeli bilateral dialogue. It is extremely important that it continue. I made that clear the last time I was here.





Olmert has accused Abbas of breaking his promise to secure the release of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit before joining PA Prime Minister and Hamas Chairman Ismail Haniyeh in a new unity government this month. Shalit was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in June 2006; his whereabouts and condition remain unknown despite Abbas’ assurances that he is well.



Rice is expected to meet for a second time with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert before making any statement on diplomatic initiatives to advance the Arab-Israeli peace process. A 2002 Saudi proposal to establish formal relations with the Jewish State in exchange for Israel’s withdrawal to the pre-1967 borders has been offered as a basis for resumption of talks.



The Jewish State would also be required to allow thousands of descendants of Arabs who abandoned their homes during the 1948 War of Independence the “right of return” to Israel. Arab nations told the Arab residents of Israel that their flight would be temporary, promising to destroy the fledgling State of Israel.



Olmert has expressed willingness to negotiate the exact terms of the plan but rejected outright the “right of return” clause. Arab leaders have said they will not amend or change the plan in any way.



It is expected that the issue will be discussed at length in the upcoming Arab summit to be held in the Saudi capital of Riyadh later this week.