RICE CAUTIONS ISRAEL AGAINST PURSUING PEACE WITH SYRIA

AS THE U.S. GOVERNMENT REACHES OUT TO SYRIA AND IRAN AND THE PALESTINIANS ENGAGE IN A BLOODY CIVIL WAR, DR. RICE HAS THE FOLLOWING ADVICE FOR ISRAEL:

Rice cautions Israel against pursuing peace with Syria (JPost)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has cautioned against a growing sentiment in Israel to pursue peace with Syria instead of with warring Palestinian factions, saying there is "no substitute" for creating a Palestinian state, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Meanwhile, according to the report, Prime Minister Olmert has frustrated US officials by seeming to be increasingly indecisive.

Rice will discuss the stalled peace process with diplomats in Washington on Wednesday, but with violence erupting between Palestinian factions - and with Israel under constant attack from rockets launched from the Gaza Strip - Rice has faced criticism from some outside experts for spending so much time on a diplomatic long shot, rather than seeking to quickly end the violence.

Israeli officials, who have confirmed Israeli news media reports that there is intense discussion about whether to pursue a peace agreement with Syria, are doubtful that Rice's efforts will amount to much and are concerned that putting the Palestinian track on hold will increase anger and resentment in the Palestinian areas.

The Palestinian issue "is at the core of a lot of problems in the region," Rice told the Post. She said, "There is no substitute for trying to get to the place where the Palestinians finally have their state and the Israelis finally have a neighbor who can live in peace and security with them."

The "Israeli-Palestinian track is extremely important" because it "unlocks the key" to "further engagement between the Arabs and the Israelis," Rice said.