U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Israel's prime minister and the Palestinian president have reaffirmed their commitment to a two-state solution to the Mideast conflict.
Secretary Rice was speaking on Monday after talks with Israeli leader Ehud Olmert and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem.
But Rice did not report any breakthrough in reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which collapsed more than six years ago.
She said both leaders repeated their commitment to previous agreements and agreed that a Palestinian state can not be born of violence.
A senior U.S. official said Mr. Abbas and Mr. Olmert will meet again within weeks.
Speaking after today's meeting, Palestinian officials said Rice told Mr. Abbas during the talks that a Palestinian unity government must meet international demands such as recognizing Israel and renouncing violence.
Later, Mr. Olmert told lawmakers from his Kadima party that Israel will not deal with a Palestinian unity government unless it meets the demands which also include accepting prior agreements with the Jewish state.
Mr. Olmert said he would continue a dialogue with Mr. Abbas, of the moderate Fatah faction.
In the Gaza Strip, Hamas officials criticized the U.S. for applying pressure on the Palestinians.
Rice's peace mission was complicated by the power-sharing agreement, reached in Mecca earlier this month. The pact, between Mr. Abbas's Fatah faction and the ruling Hamas group, does not recognize Israel or renounce violence.
In advance of today's talks, Mr. Abbas said the meeting would broach final status issues such as the shape of an eventual Palestinian state.
Israel said substantial issues would not be raised.
Secretary Rice was speaking on Monday after talks with Israeli leader Ehud Olmert and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem.
But Rice did not report any breakthrough in reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which collapsed more than six years ago.
She said both leaders repeated their commitment to previous agreements and agreed that a Palestinian state can not be born of violence.
A senior U.S. official said Mr. Abbas and Mr. Olmert will meet again within weeks.
Speaking after today's meeting, Palestinian officials said Rice told Mr. Abbas during the talks that a Palestinian unity government must meet international demands such as recognizing Israel and renouncing violence.
Later, Mr. Olmert told lawmakers from his Kadima party that Israel will not deal with a Palestinian unity government unless it meets the demands which also include accepting prior agreements with the Jewish state.
Mr. Olmert said he would continue a dialogue with Mr. Abbas, of the moderate Fatah faction.
In the Gaza Strip, Hamas officials criticized the U.S. for applying pressure on the Palestinians.
Rice's peace mission was complicated by the power-sharing agreement, reached in Mecca earlier this month. The pact, between Mr. Abbas's Fatah faction and the ruling Hamas group, does not recognize Israel or renounce violence.
In advance of today's talks, Mr. Abbas said the meeting would broach final status issues such as the shape of an eventual Palestinian state.
Israel said substantial issues would not be raised.