US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited the Middle East to meet Egyptian, Saudi, Israeli and Palestinian leaders, to promote the planned US-sponsored international peace conference scheduled for November. Prime Minister Olmert says the US is still committed to maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge over other Middle East countries, despite the planned weapons deals with Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Thousands of Palestinian refugees who fled the Gaza Strip after the Hamas' takeover and have since been stuck on the Egyptian side of the Rafah Crossing will be allowed to return to the Strip via another crossing. These stories and more on the week that was.
