The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Issue date: 2/19/07 Section: News

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, right, and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pause during their meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007. The U.S. and Israel have agreed ahead of a three-way meeting with the Palestinians to shun any new Palestinian government that does not renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept existing peace agreements, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

JERUSALEM - Hoping to turn the page on six years of stalled Mideast negotiations, the U.S. instead found itself boxed in Sunday by a characteristically complex political impasse involving ally Israel and the Palestinians.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice came to the region intending to lead a symbolic peace summit. Her plans, however, have been eclipsed amid uncertainty and disagreement over how to handle last week's sudden announcement of a power-sharing deal to end internal Palestinian fighting.

Rice met for two hours with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, resolute in his position that he must govern hand-in-hand with Hamas militants who refuse to moderate anti-Israeli policies. The United States consider Hamas a terrorist group.

Later Sunday, the U.S. diplomat held a similarly long meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert over a similarly hard-line position.

Israel will not recognize a Palestinian government that refuses to renounce violence, honor past commitments and accept Israel's right to exist.

Olmert says Washington agrees and will shun the new government. U.S. officials, however, are not going that far - yet.

The United States, still hoping Abbas will change Hamas or change his mind, says it will reserve judgment until the planned Palestinian government takes shape.

Rice acknowledged that the moment is awkward for discussions of peace. But she wanted to go ahead with Monday's summit with Abbas and Olmert.

Continued...

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