No ME peace deal in 2008
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Israel on Thursday in her latest bid to push Middle East peace, but tacitly admitted the sides may not achieve the goal of a deal by the year's end.
Rice stressed the US-backed peace process will continue after George W. Bush hands over the presidency to Barack Obama on January 20.
"It is our expectation that the Annapolis process has laid groundwork which should make possible the establishment of a Palestinian state when political circumstances permit," Rice told reporters aboard her plane.
"I think that whatever happens by the end of the year, you've got a firm foundation for quickly moving forward to a conclusion," said Rice who played a key role in relaunching the peace process at a November 2007 conference in Annapolis, Maryland.
She admitted the peace process is affected by the decision to hold February 20 elections in Israel, which is now under a caretaker government.
"Obviously Israel is in the middle of elections and that is a constraint on the ability of any government to conclude what is the core conflict for Israel and the Palestinians ... But I think we can sustain momentum," Rice said.
During her visit to the region, her 19th in two years, Rice will hold talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders and attend a meeting in Egypt of the Middle East Quartet of peace mediators.
Rice also hinted she wishes the sides to define the progress made so far in the talks.
"I think at some point it will be important to work to wrap all of that work up, one way or another."
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