Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said today, before departing Jerusalem at the end of a two-day trip, that Israelis and Palestinians had agreed to resume peace talks.
“The parties have just informed me that they intend to resume negotiations and that they are in contact with one another as to how to bring this about,” Miss Rice told reporters at a joint press conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
Afterward, Miss Rice boarded a plane and headed back to Washington. She gave no indication when talks would resume.
The Bush administration is seeking a final peace agreement by the time President Bush leaves office in less than a year.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement through his office that appeared to confirm the secretary's remarks.
It said Mr. Abbas intended to “resume the peace process and negotiations."
Mr. Abbas suspended his participation in talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert over the weekend in response to a five-day Israeli ground and air assault on the Gaza Strip.
The attack was prompted by daily rocket attacks on Israeli cities by Hamas militants who are in control of Gaza, including the introduction of a new, longer-range rocket that increases at least fivefold the number of Israelis under fire.
Rocket fire continued yesterday, prompting Israel to end a one-day lull in its attacks and begin a new ground and air assault on Gaza.
The assault with tanks and aircraft came as Miss Rice was having dinner with Mr. Olmert in Jerusalem, which is about 50 miles away from Gaza.
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