US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who arrived for a two-day shuttle diplomacy mission, continues to pressure Israel to make additional concessions in the hope the US can broker a peace deal between Israel and the PA.

Following the weekend deployment of close to 500 PA security troops in the autonomous city of Jenin, Rice called on Israel not to “undercut” their authority, referring to possible IDF operations in that area.

She also questioned if Israel has complied with commitments to remove dozens of checkpoints and roadblocks throughout Yehuda and Shomron to reduce restrictions on PA motorists.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)