|
Trending Topics
|
Source: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=7358292
Rice Vows Personal Effort on Mideast Peace
(Reuters) - Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday that with the recent election of a new Palestinian leader, "we have reached a moment of opportunity and we must seize it." "I expect myself to spend an enormous amount of effort on this activity," she said, but stressed that her efforts could not substitute for Israelis and Palestinians and the responsibilities only they can fulfill to make peace, and a Palestinian state, a reality. She also said: "The Arab states have responsibilities here too, and they can't incite violence against Israel on one hand and call for peace with a two-state solution on the other." "The new Palestinian leadership in word is devoted to fighting terror; it needs to be devoted in deed to fighting terror," she said. Rice did not rule out appointing a special Mideast envoy, but questioned whether such an appointment is appropriate at this time.