"Since the Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, in November 2007 relaunched the negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis, no progress has been achieved in the negotiations between the two sides in the past more than three months," Shalaby told Xinhua.

"What complicated the situation is that the recent Israeli excessive military operations and behavior against the Gaza Strip, termed as 'Gaza Holocaust' by Arab states, prompted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to suspend peace talks with Israel," Shalaby noted.

He added that it was expected that Rice would help persuade and exert pressure on Israel to stop its military operations and attacks on Gaza and restart the peace negotiations.

Earlier reports said Rice is facing an uphill task during the visit which came after a new round of violence between Israel and the Palestinians.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) and visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speak in a press conference in Ramallah, March 4, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)