RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Israel on Monday released 198 Palestinian prisoners in a move intended to bolster the Palestinian president, Israel's negotiating partner, hours before Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in the region to try to nudge forward Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. Before embarking on two days of talks with top Israeli and Palestinian officials, Ms. Rice told reporters on the plane to Tel Aviv that there was a "lot of work ahead" if the sides hoped to reach a peace agreement by the end of the year.
RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Israel on Monday released 198 Palestinian prisoners in a move intended to bolster the Palestinian president, Israel's negotiating partner, hours before Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in the region to try to nudge forward Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.
Before embarking on two days of talks with top Israeli and Palestinian officials, Ms. Rice told reporters on the plane to Tel Aviv that there was a "lot of work ahead" if the sides hoped to reach a peace agreement by the end of the year.
JERUSALEM (AP) -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged Monday that a broad peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians is a long shot before President Bush leaves office, but she rejected the idea of a half-measure now."I think it's extremely important just to keep making forward progress, rather than trying prematurely to come to some set of conclusions," Rice said, dismissing speculation she wants both sides to sign onto a statement documenting their progress nine months into a secretive and publicly fruitless series of talks.
JERUSALEM (AP) -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged Monday that a broad peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians is a long shot before President Bush leaves office, but she rejected the idea of a half-measure now.
"I think it's extremely important just to keep making forward progress, rather than trying prematurely to come to some set of conclusions," Rice said, dismissing speculation she wants both sides to sign onto a statement documenting their progress nine months into a secretive and publicly fruitless series of talks.
