Rice fails to make breakthrough in Middle East peace talks

20 February 2007Rory McCarthy

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem. Photograph: Awad Awad/AFP/Getty Images

The talks, initially billed as a new US drive to restart the peace process, became deadlocked with Israel and the US repeating their conditions for a new Palestinian government before further progress.

The Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and Ms Rice met at the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem. After the talks Ms Rice gave only a brief statement; there was no joint press conference. She said: "All three of us affirmed our commitment to a two-state solution, agreed that a Palestinian state cannot be born of violence and terror, and reiterated our acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the road map." Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas would meet again "soon".

The Israelis say there can be no progress unless the Palestinian government meets conditions of the quartet (the US, EU, UN and Russia): to recognise Israel, renounce violence and accept previous peace talks. In a rare agreement in Mecca 10 days ago the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah committed to form a new coalition government, for which ministers are being selected. But the Mecca agreement did not explicitly meet the quartet's conditions.

After the meeting yesterday Mr Olmert said he would not cooperate with ministers of a Palestinian government that did not meet the criteria. "I am also thankful for the unambiguous position expressed by the US that it will not recognise a government which does not accept the quartet principles," Mr Olmert told the Israeli parliament . "This helps the international community to form a common stance."

The Palestinians say the new coalition government was the only way to prevent civil war in Gaza. They note that Mr Abbas, who is also known as Abu Mazen, negotiates as head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, a group which does accept the three conditions.

Mr Olmert said he would continue a "communications channel" with the Palestinian president. Mouin Rabbani, senior Middle East analyst with the International Crisis Group, said the US had underestimated how quickly obstacles would emerge. He said the agreement on the new Palestinian government contained "nothing that was inherently incompatible" with the quartet's conditions.

In Gaza Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader who will be prime minister, said the US should push for talks now because the new coalition government policy "gives a large room for political movement".

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