US talks push for Mid-East peace

The US is pushing for a peace deal before George Bush leaves office

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has held talks with her Israeli counterpart amid fresh diplomatic moves to advance the Mid-East peace process.

Ms Rice's meeting with Tzipi Livni came after Israel approved a plan to expand a West Bank settlement, which the US called "not helpful".

Ms Livni's visit to Washington follows a lull in fighting between Israel and Palestinians in Hamas-run Gaza.

US Vice-President Dick Cheney is also due to visit the region next week.

Last week US President George W Bush said he was still optimistic there would be a Middle East peace deal before he leaves office next January.

Fragile process

The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says the US appears to be on a diplomatic offensive, in an attempt to bring about a lasting agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

US policy on this is well known Condoleezza Rice Press sceptical of ceasefire

Although the heavy fighting seen in recent weeks has now diminished, there are fears that Israel's decision to re-start construction at Givat Zeev in the West Bank could derail the peace process again.

"It's not helpful to the process - but what we need to keep focused on... is moving forward the political process as well as moving forward that roadmap implementation process," US state department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

The Givat Zeev project was first signed off in 1999, but stopped two years later after Palestinian labourers refused to go on.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and about 400,000 Jews have settled in the area, including East Jerusalem.

Settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

Sitting next to Ms Livni, Ms Rice did not comment directly on the construction announcement, saying only that "US policy on this is well known".

"We have said that it's important to do everything possible to make the atmosphere for Annapolis as good as possible," she added, referring to a US-led summit last November which relaunched Israel-Palestinian peace talks.