Rice to Meet With Olmert in Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert speaks during a conference at the Israeli military Air Force House in Herzeliya, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2006. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice put Washington's heft behind new Mideast peace overtures on Tuesday, scheduling a last-minute meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank later this week. The meeting was announced a day after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called on the Palestinians to return to peace talks, saying his country would be willing to leave most of the West Bank in exchange for a "real peace." (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) (Ariel Schalit - AP)

DEAD SEA, Jordan -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will meet Thursday with Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as the U.S. tries to pave the way for revived peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Rice's trip to Jerusalem, announced Wednesday by State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, will follow a meeting Rice has scheduled for earlier Thursday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank town of Jericho.

Rice is trying to cement a shaky cease-fire agreement between the two sides. While U.S. officials are reluctant to express optimism, a long-lasting political deal between Israel and the Palestinians _ backed by several Arab countries _ would be a considerable victory for the Bush administration and is considered a necessity to quiet violence throughout the region, including Iraq.

Rice also plans to meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni while in Jerusalem.

Rice's three-day trip comes as President Bush meets with Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Jordan's capital city, Amman. Bush is expected to press al-Maliki on a plan to train Iraqi forces faster so U.S. troops can come home sooner.

Rice's meeting with Abbas would offer U.S. heft to the cease-fire that ended a five-month Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip and was aimed at halting the firing of rockets by Palestinian militants into Israel.

The truce came as Abbas, a member of the Fatah party, is trying to assemble a more moderate Palestinian government after elections handed Hamas control. Hamas' support of terrorism and refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist prompted the West and Israel to impose crushing sanctions.

Rice's trip was initially centered on a Mideast democracy and development summit sponsored by Jordan and Russia at the Dead Sea. U.S. officials say they hope to gain momentum there for two U.S.-backed initiatives that would spend money in Mideast countries to aid small businesses and non-governmental organizations.

Rice still plans to attend the summit Thursday evening.