U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Sunday tried to remove stumbling blocks on the way to an Israeli Palestinian settlement. Her visit to Israel Sunday, and with the Palestinian Authority Monday, comes on the eve of the Sharm el-Sheikh summit among Israel, the Palestinians, Egypt, and Jordan. “This is a hopeful time, but it is a time also of great responsibility for all of us,” Rice said upon meeting Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. In an interview with Israel’s Channel 1 TV, Rice called for “hard decisions … to promote peace and help the emergence of an independent Palestinian state.” She warned against, “Unilateral (Israeli) steps in Jerusalem, particularly those that might appear to prejudge future discussions.” Such moves “would be unhelpful,” she added. Israeli officials are wary of Palestinian attempts to take advantage of the momentum and press to implement the roadmap for peace — and independence — before eradicating terror. They thus complained of Palestinian shortcomings. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom told Rice the Palestinians deployed forces in Gaza and stopped rocket attacks, but Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has not yet taken “The strategic decision to eliminate the infrastructure of terrorism…. The ceasefire … leaves the initiative in the hands of the (militant) Hamas,” Shalom said according to an aide. President Moshe Katsav said Israel is willing to back Abbas and Sharon is ready for a compromise but the question is whether Abbas has the determination and leadership to overcome Palestinian extremists. © Copyright 2005 by United Press International

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