"We stress that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are a united geographical part," Abbas added. After sacking Hamas, Abbas formed a western-backed government based in the West Bank without having the confidence from the Hamas-dominated parliament.

On Saturday evening, Rice arrived in Israel for a two-day official visit to promote the stalled negotiations between Israel and the PNA.

Late on Sunday, Rice is scheduled to head back to Israel for a closed meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni after she had talks with Abbas in Ramallah.

In the evening, Rice is scheduled to hold another three-way meeting with Livni and chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qurei to discuss the disagreements between Israel and the PNA on the core issues, including Jerusalem, the refugees and the permanent borders of a future Palestinian state.

(Xinhua News Agency May 5, 2008)