Rice tells Israel and Palestinians to agree on pullout

JERUSALEM - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has told Israel and the Palestinians to agree specifics on how to carry out the Jewish state's pullout from Gaza because time was running out.

Washington sees an orderly evacuation of Israel's 21 Gaza settlements starting in mid-August as vital to renewing peace moves stalled by more than 4-1/2 years of bloodshed.

The sides' officials have met to discuss pullout issues but have yet to put together any plan as they seek to balance Israel's fears about attacks from Gaza after the withdrawal and Palestinian demands for easier access across borders.

"There is no more time to simply put problems on the agenda. This now has to be an active process of resolving these (problems)," Rice said at a news conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Rice called for understandings on Palestinian freedom of movement across the occupied coastal territory's borders, on what happens to Israeli infrastructure in evacuated Jewish settlements and on security procedures.

"We must all focus on the disengagement as our best chance to re-energise the roadmap," she said, referring to a U.S.-sponsored peace plan that would create a Palestinian state in a final settlement.

"Both parties will have to do their part if this is indeed to be a peaceful and orderly withdrawal from Gaza," she said. "So this coordination function is absolutely critical."

The two sides appeared to share the top US diplomat's sense of urgency.

Rice and Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz agreed at a meeting late on Saturday in Jerusalem that it was time for decision-making, according to an Israeli diplomat who was briefed on their discussions.

And Palestinian cabinet chief of staff, Samir Huleileh, said Palestinian leaders themselves had complained to Rice that time was running out and urged her to press Israel to cooperate more intensely over the pullout.

PRAISE AND PRODDING

On her second trip to the region this year, Rice must overcome Arab skepticism of US positions due to a widespread perception Washington favours its longstanding ally in the conflict because of a powerful Jewish constituency at home.

Rice sought to boost Abbas but, in a nod to Israeli concerns, she also urged him to get tougher on militants.

She praised "good concrete steps" Abbas had taken toward reforming Palestinian security services.

But she added: "Of course much more needs to be done, particularly to use actively the security forces to combat lawlessness and combat terrorism."

Abbas in turn complained Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank and construction of a barrier in the area "threaten the entire peace process."

Rice planned to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Sunday, two days before he is due to hold a summit with Abbas. It will be the first meeting between the two men since Feb. 8 talks in Egypt where they reached a truce deal.

Sharon insists calm is essential for carrying out a withdrawal of 9,000 settlers from settlements in Gaza and a corner of the West Bank under a plan he has billed as "disengagement" from conflict.

Israeli officials are concerned militants will resume attacks to create the impression they are chasing settlers and soldiers out.

Under interim peace deals, Israel controls Gaza's airspace and borders. Palestinians, calling for the reopening of Gaza's airport and establishment of a safe passage to the West Bank, fear they will largely remain confined to Gaza after the pullout.

- REUTERS