Press Releases

Secretary of State Rice Urges Israelis and Palestinians to Cooperate

Jerusalem
11/14/2005

Secretary Rice and Palestinian President Abbas at their press conference

RICE ON GAZA BORDER CROSSING DEAL: "We have taken a big step forward."

Before meeting Israeli Prime Minister Sharon on Monday, Secretary Rice said a Palestinian state would "enhance Israeli security." She said the hope for peace was realistic "if Palestinians fight terrorism... and if Israel takes no actions that prejudge a final settlement and works to improve the daily lives of the Palestinian people."

Disengagement creates the opportunity for the Palestinians to secure their liberty, build a democratic state and deny the enemies of reform their "favorite excuse for coercive rule and unconscionable violence," she said, and hinted during a November 14 press conference with Palestinian President Abbas that a deal on the Gaza border is "in sight." Click here for the transcript of her press conference with President Abbas.

Rice suggested that the Middle East has transformed rapidly in just the last two years, progressing toward democracy, more dialogue and a stronger condemnation of terrorism, and added that "this is a hopeful development that can make peace in the region more possible."

Despite many years of turmoil, people in the Middle East are speaking out more clearly against terrorism, Rice said in a November 13 address (click here for the complete text of her remarks at the closing session of the Saban Forum) in Jerusalem. People are also "rejecting the bankrupt belief that national struggles or religious teachings legitimize the intentional killing of innocents," she added.