US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that Israel is ready to discuss 'fundamental issues' to advance the stalled peace process.
Wrapping up her Middle East visit with joint press conference with Mr Abbas in Ramallah, she insisted that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was ready for negotiations that could lead to the creation of a Palestinian state.
Her four day regional tour was aimed at building on diplomatic momentum since Hamas' seizure of Gaza in June, and to lay the groundwork for an international peace conference.
In talks with the US Secretary of State, Mr Abbas pushed the US to apply pressure on Israel to hand over security control in West Bank cities to Fatah.
Israel has insisted that Palestinians need to clamp down on militants before any transfer of security control can take place.
Over 500 road blocks, which severely hamper freedom of movement in the West Bank, remain in place.
Israel opposes removing the roadblocks, saying they are needed in order to prevent militants from launching attacks on the Jewish state.
