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U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni holding a joint press conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday. (AP)
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PM: Israel ready to cede some security control in W. Bank to PA
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday that Israel was ready to hand over some security control in the West Bank to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' forces, an Israeli government spokesman said.

In their first meeting since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip, Olmert told Rice, however, that Israel must first receive "proper security guarantees."

The prime minister added that Hamas had to be "kept out of the game" as Israel explores new cooperation with the Palestinians.

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"[Olmert and Rice] spoke about future security cooperation with the Palestinians and Israel's concerns ... about transferring security control of various cities and areas, including Israel's condition that it only happen after proper security guarantees have been given," said David Baker, a spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office.

Baker said Israel wanted guarantees that "terror will not emerge in those areas again".

"Those security concerns have not yet been satisfied," he said.

Olmert also spoke with Rice about removing roadblocks to improve the freedom of movement for Palestinians in the West Bank, Baker said.

Speaking to reporters after talks with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Jerusalem, Rice said her meetings in Israel and Ramallah, where she will hold talks with Abbas, are intended to take advantage of "mutual opportunities" to advance the two-state solution.

"This is a time to seize opportunities and it is a time to proceed in a prepared and careful way, as one does not want to miss opportunities because of a lack of preparation but it is nonetheless a time when we have to take advantage of what is before us," she said.

Rice also met with President Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

Peres said following the meeting that the United States was leading Israel closer, "more than ever before, to the conclusive chapter of the negotiations with the Palestinians."

Peres also invited U.S. President George W. Bush to visit Israel during the country's 60th Independence Day celebrations next year.

Barak said in statement that, "There is a need to build a political horizon with the Palestinians and a need to make their everyday lives easier, though our priority and concern is the security of Israeli citizens."

Livni: Israel will not miss this opportunity
Livni told Rice that Israel also recognized that this was a propitious time for peace efforts, which it aimed to exploit.

"There is a Palestinian government which meets the requirements of the international community, a government that believes in the vision of the two states, a government that shows determination to change the situation and Israel is not going to miss this opportunity," she said.

Regarding the issue of a regional peace conference sponsored and hosted by the United States, Rice said that no invitations had yet been issued, despite securing the backing of Riyadh for such a summit.

"We haven't sent any invitations yet," she said. "There is no need for anybody to say whether they are going to come or not."

The Saudi foreign minister had indicated earlier Wednesday that his country may attend the conference, which is set to take place in the fall. Israel responded positively to the hint that Riyadh may send a delegation.

"When we get an invitation from the minister [Rice] to attend, when this takes place, we will study it and we will be keen to attend," Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said at a press conference with Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

"We are interested in the peace conference, one that deals with the heart of the peace process, the issues of peace, the core issues, not one that is just a podium for meetings and talk that do not enrich peace," he said.

Saudi Arabia has no diplomatic relations with Israel, and a conference attended by both countries would be hailed as a diplomatic breakthrough.

Olmert's office said after the Saudi statement Wednesday that Israel hopes many Arab countries will attend the meeting, including Saudi Arabia.

Olmert's office also said that the regional meeting would also be able to grant an umbrella to the bilateral talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

A source in Jerusalem told Haaretz he believed that the Saudi decision to attend the meeting was sparked by the U.S. government's announcement of a $20 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia over the weekend, and the fact that Israel did not publicly object to the deal.

On Tuesday, government sources in Jerusalem told Haaretz that Olmert was planning to ask Rice during her visit to Israel, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, to include Saudi Arabia in the international peace conference.

The sources explained Olmert hopes this will demonstrate that his government is making diplomatic headway.

Rice's visit to Jerusalem is the last stop on her tour of the region. Rice, accompanied by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, met with Arab League representatives in Egypt on Tuesday.
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  1.   Meeting with the Saudis 04:13  |  Brod 01/08/07
  2.   Chew first 04:28  |  Baz Mann 01/08/07
  3.   Saudi Arabia as the cute blonde Israel wants to date 05:34  |  Fortuna Benmayor 01/08/07
  4.   stop begging 05:47  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/08/07
  5.   In the Latin tongue...Respondeat Superior 05:55  |  Word 01/08/07
  6.   Olmerts idea of a "dramatic diplomatic breakthrough" 06:37  |  Johnboy 01/08/07
  7.   Would Probably Be Easier To Meet Bin Laden 06:43  |  Yosemite 01/08/07
  8.   Israel being sold out by the US 06:44  |  ralphsrant1 01/08/07
  9.   rice visit 07:58  |  Mark 01/08/07
  10.   Baz Mann 08:31  |  Hannah 01/08/07
  11.   Fortuna, peace is so childish 08:33  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 01/08/07
  12.   Bush vs Nixon. Who will be worst? 08:57  |  Natallie Durson 01/08/07
  13.   To #4 - why stop begging? 09:11  |  Velvl Shmerlson 01/08/07
  14.   Hamas and Hizzbollah 09:20  |  Joseph 01/08/07
  15.   Baloney 09:35  |  Clickfool 01/08/07
  16.   Bush is NOT serious! 09:52  |  Judge 01/08/07
  17.   It must be clear to all that any such conference/summit planned 10:00  |  Avihu 01/08/07
  18.   What peace? 10:13  |  www.kibush.co.il 01/08/07
  19.   #16, Avihu 10:15  |  Burkhardt 01/08/07
  20.   # 12, MS. DURSON 10:36  |  indrajaya 01/08/07
  21.   The Saudis WANT to attend? Read between the lines. 11:04  |  Johnboy 01/08/07
  22.   Condi, the Saudis and the "suicide mission" 11:08  |  Swiss (Dino) 01/08/07
  23.   SAUDI "PEACE" PLAN, DE-ORWELLIZED 11:11  |  G. Marcus 01/08/07
  24.   After the failed war in Iraq, Saudi plan is the only option 11:19  |  Michael 01/08/07
  25.   Burkhardt, Israelis don`t expect to negotiate with friends, but 11:34  |  Avihu 01/08/07
  26.   #22 G. Marcus` very poor grip on reality 11:35  |  Johnboy 01/08/07
  27.   Tell the Saudi Arabians to take a hike. 11:57  |  Simcha 01/08/07
  28.   #25: Your denial of reality... What is your motive? 12:04  |  G. Marcus 01/08/07
  29.   Will HAMAS send LAKSMI, INDRAHAHA to the summit too??? 12:20  |  Blow4Peace 01/08/07
  30.   The Saudies, The God`s most idiot people 12:22  |  Atilla Karagozoglu 01/08/07
  31.   srael will have security,when it fights back. 12:31  |  simcha 01/08/07
  32.   To : David Israel 12:32  |  Atilla Karagozoglu 01/08/07
  33.   Michael`s UK has refused HK Chinese right to settle in GB,but 12:42  |  Absolute Sweden 01/08/07
  34.   Atilla the hun(k)? 12:48  |  Margie Argie Bargie 01/08/07
  35.   To Absolute Sweden 12:50  |  Logician 01/08/07
  36.   Arabs are not all Jihadi extremists 12:51  |  Sam 01/08/07
  37.   TORAH, BIBLE, QURAN...THESE ARE ALL ANTISEMITES 12:57  |  Atilla 01/08/07
  38.   The Arab Street Has to be taught New Realities 12:57  |  Ronnie Wolman 01/08/07
  39.   Israel Bashers Getting Apoplectic 12:58  |  Dyinglikeflies 01/08/07
  40.   here is a question ? 13:00  |  a.k. 01/08/07
  41.   Absolute Sweden`s absolute desperation 31 13:15  |  Michael 01/08/07
  42.   Im sorry did you say peace deal? or arms deal? 13:25  |  yusuf 01/08/07
  43.   We cannot trust the Saudis 13:27  |  Michael 01/08/07
  44.   Its Time for the Saudi Leaders to Leave the Closet 13:27  |  Ronnie Wolman 01/08/07
  45.   You`re uninformed Johnboy 13:30  |  Michael 01/08/07
  46.   antısemıte subject must be finished 13:31  |  Atilla 01/08/07
  47.   Marcus,Avihu,et al you have to change your focus from your wish 13:34  |  lakshmi 01/08/07
  48.   Lamest of lame ducks 13:37  |  James 01/08/07
  49.   # 24 avihu 13:37  |  Axel 01/08/07
  50.   a SUMMIT is TALKING-NOTHING MORE 13:38  |  JON FEIGENBAUM 01/08/07
  51.   # 26 G. marcus 13:40  |  Axel 01/08/07
  52.   A FOLLOW UP 13:40  |  JON FEIGENBAUM 01/08/07
  53.   Margie Barbie 13:41  |  Atilla Liman 01/08/07
  54.   #20 AND THEY WILL HAVE TO RECOGNISE ISRAEL TO ATTEND 13:58  |  paul harris 01/08/07
  55.   The whole thing is sham.. as usual 14:05  |  Avi 01/08/07
  56.   # 40 14:10  |  Axel 01/08/07
  57.   Right-of-Return Or Lack of 14:10  |  Darwish 01/08/07
  58.   #43, Axel 14:12  |  Burkhardt 01/08/07
  59.   Condi Is So Hot 14:16  |  Renny Stempit 01/08/07
  60.   Atilla 14:21  |  Margie Bargie 01/08/07
  61.   Cipora J. Kohn wants to stop the begging 14:25  |  Yaakov Sullivan 01/08/07
  62.   Michael`s colonial UK desperation 14:25  |  Absolute Sweden 01/08/07
  63.   Axel, I am not asking. The asking has been done by the Quartet, 14:27  |  Avihu 01/08/07
  64.   Give Peace a CHANCE 14:29  |  IMO 01/08/07
  65.   The Saudi Proposal 14:30  |  Yaakov Sullivan 01/08/07
  66.   Israel is Being Sold Out 14:32  |  ralphsrant1 01/08/07
  67.   To Margie re Atila 14:32  |  Dyinglikeflies 01/08/07
  68.   #50 RIGHT OF RETURN NOT ON THE TABLE_EVER 14:37  |  JON FEIGENBAUM 01/08/07
  69.   Yes Ms Kohn - Stop Begging 14:41  |  Renny Stempit 01/08/07
  70.   Dyinglikeflies 14:42  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 01/08/07
  71.   #56, Avihu 14:44  |  Burkhardt 01/08/07
  72.   Ain`t going to happen 14:46  |  Alexis 01/08/07
  73.   Anti-Free World U.S Determined to DESTROY Israel`s Security 14:50  |  Linda Rivera 01/08/07
  74.   Avihu and the past history 14:50  |  Yaakov Sullivan 01/08/07
  75.   Jewish Refugees 14:54  |  Simone 01/08/07
  76.   Didn`t Haaretz say Bush would only invite Israel-recognisers? 15:04  |  Clickfool 01/08/07
  77.   55 Absolute Sweden`s absolute BS, as usual 15:07  |  Michael 01/08/07
  78.   # 56 avihu 15:07  |  Axel 01/08/07
  79.   #26 G. Marcus - Right on! 15:08  |  Bo