US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said today a US-led push for Israeli-Palestinian peace stands a "reasonable chance of success" but that differences remain over a planned Middle East conference.
Dr Rice wrapped up four days of shuttle diplomacy with no sign of a breakthrough or an announcement of a final date for the international gathering that Washington sees as the most serious step towards Palestinian statehood in years.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas put Dr Rice on notice that Palestinians could opt out of the conference if talks fail with Israel over a joint document that would address key issues and lead to the revival of negotiations on a peace deal.
"It's impossible to go to the conference at any price," Mr Abbas told reporters. "We told Secretary Rice we don't have much time, that we must make use of every minute."
At a news conference with Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni, Dr Rice pledged the meeting, planned for November or December in Annapolis, Maryland, would be substantive and said: "I don't expect anybody to attend at any cost, including us."
Mr Abbas, who lost control of the Gaza Strip to Hamas Islamists in June, is seeking a document that deals in detail with the most divisive issues of its conflict with the Palestinians - borders and the future of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees.
Israel wants a broad-brush document and rejects Abbas's call for a timeline for addressing the core issues and implementing any agreement.
"We are at the beginning of a process," Dr Rice acknowledged, looking ahead to what she called "the day after" the conference that would set the stage for a final peace push.