Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, finished today her Middle East visit with a talk with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem.

Over the past five days, Mrs. Rice held meetings with the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and many other state officials in order to find a proper solution on the Israeli – Palestinian conflicts. She expressed her strong belief that an agreement between the two is within reach by the end of President Bush’s term.

She also manifested her concern for the Palestinians struggling under Israeli occupation in the West Bank area and asked Israel for some assistance in order to make their daily life a little easier. She referred mostly to the roadblocks made by authorities. Since Mrs. Rice’s last visit in late March, there have been 44 barriers removed, but she feels that there is still room for a much bigger improvement.

"That means doing nothing, certainly, that would suggest that there is any prejudicing of the final terms" of a deal setting up a Palestinian state. "The United States will consider nothing that is done to have prejudiced the final status negotiations," she was quoted saying by the Washington Post.

President George W. Bush will also participate in the peace efforts, as he is expected in Israel this week. He will be participating in Israel’s celebration for 60 years of independence.

Preparations for the event are in full effect and on May 8 they will celebrate the progress made by the state over the last six decades.