JERUSALEM, July 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Israel on Monday after an unannounced brief visit to Beirut in a diplomatic push to calm the situation in Lebanon where Israel is waging a massive assault.

    The top U.S. diplomat has reached Tel Aviv, local media reported.

    Rice is scheduled to meet Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni later in the day and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday.

    She is also expected to hold talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

    Rice has said that she will exert efforts to achieve a "sustainable ceasefire" between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah.

    Violence erupted on July 12 when Hezbollah guerillas kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed eight during cross-border attacks and Israel responded by launching a massive onslaught in Lebanon. Enditem