Speaking with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice while on a tour of the Middle East, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated that he was opposed to the establishment of a provisional Palestinian state within temporary borders.
"We told Secretary Rice that we reject any temporary solutions, including a transitional stage, because we don't see it as a realistic option," Abbas told reporters on in the West Bank town of Ramallah on Sunday, according to the Associated Press.
The idea of an interim agreement between Palestinians and Israelis is part of the US-backed "road map" peace plan, and was also floated last month by Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
Rice responded to Abbas' comment, however, by expressing support for the "road map plan, saying that the U.S. was maintaining its commitment to it.
"My work is going to be best targeted, I think, in these next months on trying to accelerate progress on the road map, which after all would lead us then to a Palestinian state and to helping the Palestinians and Israelis think through the political horizon," Rice pointed out.
© 2007 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
