RAMALLAH, June 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged on Saturday the Palestinians and Israel to coordinate the latter's summer pullout from Gaza.

    Rice told a news conference, jointly held with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, that "there are no other alternatives except to coordinate the plan."

    "It is necessary for both sides to play its role if this will help to achieve an organized, peaceful and safe withdrawal from Gaza," said Rice.

    "I spoke with the Palestinians on the importance of this subject and will talk to the Israelis about it," the top US diplomat said.

    "The withdrawal from Gaza is not the end, but it is a step towards a solution and towards the establishment of a viable Palestinian state living side by side with Israel," she said.

    Rice began a Mideast tour on Saturday to boost coordination between the Palestinians and Israel over the Israeli withdrawal from all 21 settlements in Gaza and four of 120 in the West Bank due in mid-August.

    After meeting with Palestinian leadership in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Rice will hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem on Sunday.

    The two will discuss Hamas' participation in the upcoming Palestinian legislative elections.

    After her trip to the Palestinian territories and Israel, Rice will head on to Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Enditem