US State Department official to visit Israel

US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns departed for an official visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Burns will dedicate his visit to discuss the progress in the Israeli-Palestinian talks and the latest developments in the Iranian nuclear programme. The visit is part of a series of meetings between Israeli and US officials on the strategic ties between the countries in light of the developments in the Iranian nuclear programme. "The US and Israeli teams will discuss their assessments of Iran's nuclear program and diplomatic efforts under way to prevent Iran from developing nuclear capability," the State Department said. The dialogue between the countries was intensified following the release of the National Intelligence Estimate that suggested Tehran halted its nuclear weapons programme in 2003, an assessment highly contested by the Israeli intelligence. The State Department said the US-Israeli talks would also address concerns over the implementation of a UN Security Council resolution calling for the disarmament of Hezbollah and other militias in Lebanon.

Before ending his visit to Israel on Friday, Burns also will meet with Secretary General of the PLO Executive Committee Yasser Abed Rabbo, the State Department said. The State Department is following Palestinian actions against terror organisations in the West Bank and the establishment of stable security mechanisms by the Palestinian Authority.

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