Rice drops mentioning peace deal by end of year

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday that a deal on the outlines of a Palestinian state can still be reached, but dropped previous remarks that one could be sealed by year-end.

Rice also pledged "unwavering" support for Israel during a visit to Washington by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert -- whose uncertain political future has in turn fueled doubts about the course of Israeli-Palestinian talks.

"We still believe that we have a chance to reach an agreement on the basic contours of a peaceful Palestinian state," Rice told the annual policy meeting of the pro-Israel lobby, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

"I know that this is ambitious, but if we can pursue this goal by the end of the year, it will be...