Rice in Israel to Advance Summit

Oct 14, 06:37 AM

Current Headlines: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in the Middle East Sunday to press Israel toward a diplomatic horizon with the Palestinians.

Rice was to meet Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to advance an Israeli-Palestinian joint statement for a November peace summit in the United States.

Rice seeks a concrete statement which presents a diplomatic horizon to the Palestinians, while Olmert prefers a more vague statement outlining a declaration of principles, Haaretz reported Sunday.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has been named head of Israel's negotiating staff for the statement and summit. Livni, who is leaning toward a general statement, has warned in recent weeks against high expectations for the summit, Haaretz said.