Rice, who visits the region from Friday to Sunday, will work with "both sides to narrow differences on the political issues that divide them, move the political process forward," spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.
The secretary will also "work with them on road map-related issues, to urge compliance with both sides -- urge compliance by both sides with their road map obligations," McCormack said, adding a more formal announcement would be made.
Under the road map -- drafted in 2003 by the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union -- Israel is to freeze settlements and the Palestinians are to stop violence.
The road map points the way to creating a Palestinian state living in peace with Israel.
Rice's new visit comes just three weeks after her last which was aimed at salvaging the talks after the Palestinians suspended them in the wake of a deadly Israeli assault in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
The peace talks, which were renewed in an international summit in the United States in November after a seven-year hiatus, have made little progress since.
© 2008 Agence France-Presse
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