Rice raises fears two-state solution may be in jeopardy - Haaretz

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Fri., October 26, 2007 Cheshvan 14, 5768

Israel Time: 02:11 (EST+7)

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Rice raises fears two-state solution may be in jeopardy

By Haaretz Correspondent and AP , By Shmuel Rosner

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice looked amused at times when she was asked to respond to assessments and early statements about the peace summit in Annapolis.

There is still no date, the invitations have not been sent and the preliminary meetings are still taking place. But she does not appear to be unnerved by, for example, the Palestinian threats that they may not participate in the summit.

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There will be a gathering, she promises, "before the end of the year." Until that happens, a lot of things will be said, as that is the nature of negotiations.

For those who suspect that furthering the talks is not meant to do anything other than allow Rice to leave behind her a positive legacy when she leaves her position in 15 months or so, she had the following response: "There are certainly easier tasks than the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that I could have selected for this purpose."

Rice sat before the House Foreign Affairs Committee for three hours yesterday, a confident, relaxed performance.

Regarding the reasons for a peace summit at this time, Rice said, "The timing comes down to what it is we need to do to give moderate forces in the region a boost and to deal a blow to forces of extremism."

"Our concern is growing that without a serious political prospect for the Palestinians that gives to moderate leaders a horizon that they can show to their people that indeed there is a two-state solution that is possible, we will lose the window for a two-state solution," Rice told the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Using different wording, Rice reiterated that in spite of the personal sympathy that she feels for the hardship of the Palestinians, the Secretary of State would like to present her efforts as part of a regional move, not merely an attempt to solve a local problem.

Rice, who received her training during the Cold War, has grown accustomed to looking at the world from a great height. From that level, you do not see details, just blocks fighting over prestige, standing and influence.

The explanations she offered the committee yesterday were in line with this tradition. They boost her arguments, but also raise concerns that when the time comes to focus on the details of the local conflict, she may run into trouble. She was lucky enough that the congressional committee did not require details on the substance of the Israeli-Palestinian draft document, or about the necessary arrangements for the problems of Jerusalem, the refugees and the borders.

Nonetheless, Rice said the Bush administration intends to support the bilateral track that Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert are engaged in. A major portion of her testimony focused on Iran, whom she blamed for fanning flames in the region, including what she called troubling new Iranian support for Hamas militants.

Rice said that the administration shares Congress' goal of imposing tougher sanctions. But a multilateral approach is necessary, she said, and urged lawmakers to work with the administration.

When asked whether the administration is considering a military strike in Iran, Rice said the administration is committed to a diplomatic approach but would not take any of its options off the table.

Rice said sanctions imposed by the international community, and companies voluntarily refusing to invest in Iran is the best bet.

"Frankly, the international community has to get a lot tougher if it's going to get resolved diplomatically," she said. "The Iranians are not a state, I don't think, that will change their behavior just through talking to them."

On Iranian ties to Hamas, Rice said it was a disturbing new trend.

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