JERUSALEM - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday that Israeli and Palestinian leaders have agreed to begin meeting every two weeks and that a "path of cooperation" with the new Palestinian unity government exists.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks during a joint press conference with Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, not seen, in Jerusalem, Monday, March 26, 2007. [AP]

The new government, a coalition between the Islamist Hamas group and the more moderate Fatah, was inaugurated last week.

Rice spoke at a press conference in Jerusalem after three days of meetings with Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian leaders. She arrived in the region Sunday for her fourth visit in four months, in an attempt to push Israeli and Palestinian leaders closer to resuming peace talks.

Rice said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will discuss a "political horizon," but added that the two sides are "not yet at final status negotiations."

She said peacemaking was made "more complex" by Hamas' presence in the government. The group has refused to recognize Israel and renounce violence. She also called on Arab states to hold contacts with Israel.