RICE ON THE STAND

Rice 'will take lead on US policy in Mideast'
In the confirmation hearings of Dr Rice she had this to say of the conflict in Israel and the territories.
- June 2002 speech of Bush remains central
- PA security forces must be unified and the terrorists isolated and disarmed
- Palestine must be viable i.e. economically, democratically and geographically
- Neighours cannot be permitted to instigate terror
- borders must be negotiated by the parties themselves but the PA is not yet ready for that
- No criticism of Israel