Rice: Israelis, Palestinians should resume talks, try for deal in '08
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday she will work toward resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations as soon as possible, saying Hamas is trying to wreck chances for the peace process.
Rice made the comments after talks with Egyptian officials in Cairo on a stopover before heading to Israel, trying to rescue peace talks after an Israeli military offensive that killed more than 100 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Israel launched the offensive to stop rocket attacks by Hamas groups on nearby Israeli cities, but the assault prompted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to suspend negotiations.