Rice asks Israel to keep border open to Palestinians

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on Friday about keeping borders open to the Palestinian people, State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said.

"The secretary made calls to not only (Palestinian) President Abbas but (Israeli) Foreign Minister Livni and Defense Minister Mofaz," Ereli said at a briefing.

"The major purpose of those conversations was to talk to all three about how we can work together to ensure that the border remains open and that the Palestinian people continue to get the kind of trade and humanitarian supplies across the border that we' ve been able to assure to date, but looking ahead to continue the flow of those goods," Ereli said.

Abbas has been trying to settle border disputes with Israel to prevent Israel from closing the crossings to the Palestinians.

Source: Xinhua