Al-Quds city, Feb 7, SPA -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Riceon Monday turned her attention to the new Palestinian leadership after telling Israelis they must make hard decisions for peace _ part of the run-up to the first full-fledged summit meeting between Israeli and Palestinian leaders after four years of violence. Rice held talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas inthe former headquarters of the late Yasser Arafat. The Palestinians want Rice to press Israel for additionalgestures during the summit between Abbas and Israeli PrimeMinister Ariel Sharon on Tuesday in the Egyptian resort ofSharm el-Sheik. Rice's two-day visit, her first to the Middle East sincetaking over the State Department, is meant to nudge bothsides to take hold of what she called "a time ofopportunity." On Monday morning, Rice met separately with Israeli VicePremier Shimon Peres and Israeli Defense Minister ShaulMofaz. After meetings with Israeli leaders, Rice urged both sidesto live up to their promises. "This is a hopeful time, but it is a time also of greatresponsibility for all of us to make certain that we act onthe words that we speak," she said before her 90-minute meeting with Sharon on Sunday evening, adding that her goal was to "try to advance the cause of peace and to overcome the scourge of terrorism." Sharon greeted Rice warmly, telling her in English, "youare among friends." "Her visit, I believe, will contribute to the peace process that we so much want to advance," Sharon said in Hebrew.--MORE1316 Local Time 1016 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/237430