Rice to visit Palestinian territories in February

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Saturday that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit the Palestinian territories on Feb. 6-7.

Erekat told the Voice of Palestine that visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs William Burns said on Friday during talks with him that Rice will visit the Palestinian territories to reactivate the peace process between the Palestinians and Israel.

Erekat said that Burns said US President George W. Bush is determined to turn his view of the peace process into a real political path.

"We hope these words will be a real way to a practice on the ground that will achieve the main goal of ending the Israeli occupation since 1967," Erekat said.

"We hope Israel can stop building the separation wall and new settlements, end the occupation and fulfill its commitment to the peace process," he said.