Palestinian Democracy? Really Now, Rice

Interview With Katie Couric of CBS News

Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Dead Sea, Jordan
November 30, 2006

QUESTION: Meanwhile, I (inaudible), but I have one question about the Palestinian situation. You have had separate meetings today with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and Palestinian President Abbas. Is there any progress being made in that, and do you, in any way, feel that solving the Israeli-Palestinian issue is even more important than solving Iraq?

SECRETARY RICE: Oh, I think these are both important on their own merits. And they are both a part of a different kind of Middle East in which you would have a Palestinian state, Israel and Palestine living side by side in democracy and peace; and Iraq democratic and able to be a positive force in the region, unlike Saddam Hussein's regime that has been such a negative force, ever since that regime was in power.

Those are both pillars of a different and truly stable Middle East that has a democratic future. So we will spend every effort -- and I said to Prime Minister Olmert and to President Abbas today, the President is committed and I am personally committed to accelerating, to intensifying our efforts to try and help the Palestinians and the Israelis advance toward a two-state solution. There's a little opening today as a result of the ceasefire which we hope will be consolidated and extended; as a result of Prime Minister Olmert's positive speech and offering a hand to their Palestinian partner; and as a result of the very strong leadership efforts that President Abbas is making to try to resolve the Palestinian political process. These are elements of an opening. It's going to take hard work. It's going to take good will and heart, but we will do everything that we can to try and make progress towards a two-state solution.