JERUSALEM, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Jerusalem was told Israel's sanctions against Gaza would not create a unbearable crisis for Palestinian civilians.
"The sanctions Israel has imposed on civilians and the state will not cause a humanitarian crisis in the (Gaza) strip," Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said, Haaretz reported.
Barak also told Rice Israeli forces would remain in control of security in the West Bank City of Nablus, despite increased cooperation with Palestinian Authority police, Haaretz said.
In a meeting earlier in the day, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told Rice negotiations have stalled for a peace summit scheduled later this year in Annapolis, Md.
"We must reach a basic understanding that the creation of a Palestinian state should occur only after Israel's security is established," Livni said in outlining the disagreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
On security issues, Israel agreed to let the United States arbitrate differences between the two sides over implementation of road map for the West Bank, Haaretz said.
