peacemaking Ramallah, West Bank, Feb 7, SPA -- U.S. Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice on Monday promised active U.S. involvementin Mideast peace-making, saying Washington would dispatch ahigh-level "security coordinator" to the region and send more than US$40 million in immediate aid to the Palestinians. Rice praised Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, saying heis following through on his mandate to restore calm in thePalestinian areas and that he has helped jump-start peaceefforts with Israel. "We will be very active," Rice said at a joint newsconference with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, capping atwo-day visit to Israel and the West Bank. She urgedIsraelis and Palestinians to make "maximum effort" tomake the best of the current chance for peace. At the start of her visit, Rice met with Israeli leaders,including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Rice said she told the Israelis that they must refrainfrom taking unilateral actions that would prejudge theoutcome of future peace negotiations.--MORE1435 Local Time 1135 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/237464