JERUSALEM — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will insist when he meets with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the U.S. pressure Israel to stop settlement construction, an Abbas aide said Saturday.
Rice, who arrived in Israel late Saturday, appeared more exasperated with the Israeli construction than she has in past condemnations. Israeli announcements of building plans have often come just before or after her visits in the past year and a half of her peace mission.
“Unfortunately there have been a few whether I’m coming or not,” Rice told reporters on her plane. Her clipped tone and arched brows revealed annoyance. “Look, it’s a problem, and it’s a problem that we’re going to address with the Israelis.”
Rice was to hold separate talks today with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the West Bank. The visit is part of the U.S. effort to prod the sides toward a final peace agreement by the end of the year.
But that deadline, meant to coincide with the end of President Bush’s term, has appeared increasingly unrealistic with little visible progress in the negotiations. Officials on both sides say privately they are pessimistic about the prospects of establishing a Palestinian state.
