The State Department took note Wednesday of what it called positive developments in the Middle East ahead of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to the region. Spokesman Sean McCormack cited in particular the meeting last week between Israel's defense minister and the Palestinian interior minister, AP reported. He also called attention to the planned meeting between Israeli Prime Minister and Palestinian Authority President after Rice's visit. McCormack said the primary U.S. focus in the Middle East is on Israeli disengagement from Gaza. «The date is fast coming up on the parties. I believe mid-August is the scheduled beginning for the disengagement,» he said.
