Ahead of her visit to Israel later this week, Ha'aretz reports that Secretary Rice will discuss steps for strengthening Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during meetings with Israeli officials. According to an Israeli diplomatic source, the administration wants to shore up Abbas' position and weaken Hamas by "creative" means, one of which would be the moving of funds to the Palestinian Authority through Abbas.
Rice, scheduled to meet with Israeli PM Ehud Olmert, FM Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Amir Peretz, as well as Abbas in Ramallah, will also be discussing a plan for operation of the crossings between Gaza and Israel designed by Gen. Dayton in a way similar to the manner in which the Rafah crossing is run. Specifically, the plan calls for the crossings to be run by Abbas' presidential guard which will be assisted by foreign observers. Peretz has expressed his support for the plan.
Ha'aretz also reports that Olmert will meet with President Bush at the White House during a visit to the U.S. in mid-November. The meeting, which will focus on the implications of the war in Lebanon and the diplomatic process with the Palestinians, will be Olmert's second with Bush since taking office at the beginning of this year.
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