RAMALLAH, Feb. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Nabil Abu Rudeineh, senior advisor to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, asserted on Monday that the Palestinians are looking forward to a new start of dialogue on a high level with the United States.

    Abu Rudeineh told reporters that such dialogue would help renew the peace process and implement the US-backed roadmap peace plan.

    "The US role is important for reviving the peace process from the Palestinian point of view," the senior Palestinian official stressed.

    He also voiced optimism that the visit of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the West Bank city of Ramallah would veer the US-Palestinian relations to the right way.

    Abu Rudeineh expressed hope that the Bush administration would help the Palestinians achieve a ceasefire with Israel and press theJewish state to stop pursuing and targeted killing of wanted Palestinians.

    Commenting on Tuesday's summit which will gather Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as well as Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheik, he said the high-profile meeting will mark a new era in the Middle East peace process.

    US President George W. Bush has invited Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to the White House for talks this spring, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Riceannounced after meeting with Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Enditem