Barak tells Rice he still believes in peace

By HERB KEINON
Defense Minister Ehud Barak phoned US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Sunday to clarify that despite press reports to the contrary, he still believes in constructing a "political horizon" with the Palestinians. "There has been no change at all in my position or the Labor Party's position which is to search for every political horizon, alongside our commitment to the security of Israeli citizens," Barak said. The phone call followed a story in Friday's Yediot Ahronot quoting Barak as saying there was no chance for peace agreements with the Palestinians, there was no difference between Fatah and Hamas, and that the IDF would not be able to leave the West Bank for at least five years.