The option to establish a Palestinian state within temporary borders is not on the table, President Mahmoud Abbas told U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sunday.
Rice is in the Middle East in a bid to gather support for U.S. President George Bush's new plan to boost troop numbers in Iraq, and to nudge the Palestinians and Israelis closer to a solution.
Palestinian officials have expressed concerns with the temporary border idea, which was also proposed by Israel's foreign minister.
"We reaffirmed to Secretary Rice our rejection of any temporary or transitional solutions, including a state with temporary borders, because we don't see in it as a realistic option," he told a joint news conference with Rice.
Rice, in response, said the U.S. remains steadfastly committed to the internationally supported "road map" peace plan.
At the start of her trip, she said she wasn't bringing a West Bank plan or proposal with her to the Middle East.
"My work is going to be best targeted, I think, in these next months on trying to accelerate progress on the road map, which after all would lead us then to a Palestinian state and to helping the Palestinians and Israelis think through the political horizon," she said at the joint news conference.
Rice did say, however, that she was told the U.S. must deepen its involvement in Mideast peace efforts, and she committed to do just that, pledging that she and Bush are willing to do what it takes to achieve a solution.
"The Palestinian people have waited a long time for their own state. The Israeli people have waited a long time to live in security and peace with their neighbors," she said.
Abbas has been in a deadlock with the ruling Hamas government over the formation of a unity government. His efforts to reach an agreement have been unsuccessful so far, and he reiterated his intention to call early elections if new talks with Hamas fail.
The two sides have tried to reach an agreement, but have been unable to compromise on appointments to key cabinet posts and the government's political program.
Hamas has refused to recognize Israel as a state and to renounce violence despite international pressure to do so.
Late Saturday, Abbas spoke with Hamas's Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh to discuss the latest round of talks, The Associated Press reports.
Other meetings are scheduled for Sunday in Gaza.
Prior to Rice's arrival, Haniyeh accused the U.S. and Israel of encouraging a civil war in the Palestinian territory.
On Saturday, Rice met with Israeli ministers. One of them, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, last month proposed setting up a provisional Palestinian state.
Under her proposal, the borders would be marked by the separation barrier Israel is building in the West Bank.
With files from The Associated Press
