Rice begins peace mission as Israel declares gaza an "enemy entity"

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Source: CCTV.com | 09-21-2007 11:17

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives for a joint news conference with Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni (not pictured) in Jerusalem, September 19, 2007. (Reuters)

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the upcoming US-sponsored Middle East peace conference must be "substantive." She has also called on Israel and the Palestinians to draft a document before the meeting that lays the foundations for serious negotiations.

Condoleezza Rice held talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Thursday. Their talks focused on how to make a peace conference in November a success.

Condoleezza Rice said, "We have many things to do, we don't need a photo opportunity. We need a meeting that will advance the cause of a Palestinian state.That is the only reason to have a meeting."

Rice expressed hope that Israel and the Palestinians could reach a peace accord before of the conference.

Abbas said it is time to create an independent Palestinian state. And Jerusalem should be the capital of the future statehood.