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Rice Pledges to 'Redouble' Efforts to Aid Palestinian People


U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the United States will "redouble" efforts to improve conditions for the Palestinian people.

Rice made the pledge after talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday.

She said she is concerned about humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territories, and that she would talk to Israel about re-opening some crossings to and from the territories.

In a news conference with Rice, Mr. Abbas, of the moderate Fatah group, said talks have broken down between his Fatah party and the militant ruling group Hamas on forming a unity government.

Later, Rice dined with Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert amid new reports of violence in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian witnesses said Israel launched an airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip, killing two Palestinians. The Israeli army has confirmed the strike, saying the targets were terrorists planning to carry out attacks.

In June, Israel launched an offensive in the Gaza Strip aimed at stopping Palestinian militants from launching rockets at the Jewish state. More than 200 Palestinians have died in the offensive.

Israel has refused to negotiate with the Palestinians, citing the refusal of the ruling Islamic group Hamas to renounce violence, recognize the Jewish state and accept prior agreements with Israel.

Israel's government suspended monthly tax and customs payments to the Palestinian Authority after Hamas took power in March. And the U.S. has suspended aid to the Palestinian government but continues to provide humanitarian assistance directly to the Palestinian people. The Palestinian Authority has been unable to pay the salaries of more than 160,000 civil servants since March.

Rice meets with Israel's foreign minister Tzipi Livni on Thursday.

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