Rice Meets With Olmert In Israel
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and discuss among other things, ways to resolve the looming regional crisis in the Middle East and the continued violence in Lebanon and Gaza. Rice said Tuesday on her arrival, "I have no doubt there are those who wish to strangle a democratic and sovereign Lebanon in its crib. We, of course, also urgently want to end the violence." She and Olmert posed for photographers before heading to a closed door meeting. Both countries share the same position that any cessation of hostilities must ensure of lasting peace in the region and that Hezbollah's capabilities to attack Israel or any part of it, has clearly been dismantled. According to the Associated Press, Rice issued a statement saying she does not want to return to the region in weeks of months after terrorists groups have disrupted any cease-fire. The United States and Israel have branded the Hezbollah as a terror group. She adds, "It is time for a new Middle East. It is time to say to those that don't want a different kind of Middle East that we will prevail. They will not." For his part, the Israeli PM said his country is determined to carry on with its fight against Hezbollah. He vowed that Israel "will not hesitate to take severe measures against those who are aiming thous |
