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Dec. 1, 2004 23:46 | Updated Dec. 2, 2004 1:06
US senators upbeat about Mideast peace prospects
By HERB KEINON
A blue-ribbon US Senate delegation left Israel for Jordan Wednesday with its members buoyed by two days of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian Authority officials.
Joseph Biden (D-Delaware), the ranking Democrat on the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, said that in 32 years of coming to Israel, this was the first time that both Israelis and Palestinians sounded guardedly optimistic about the intentions of the other side.
"There is a sense among the Palestinian leadership that Prime Minister Sharon is serious about seeing change in the status quo, and moving forward on the road map and a two-state solution," Biden said at a Jerusalem press conference. "And with regard to the Israeli attitude, there is a sense that Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas]'s intentions are positive, and that for the first time in a long time there is an alignment of possible Palestinian leadership that will genuinely attempt to deal with security."
In addition to Biden, the delegation is composed of Chuck Hagel (R-Nebraska), Lincoln Cafee (R-Rhode Island), and Dianne Feinstein (D-California).
The delegation met with Abbas in the PA, and in Israel with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, and Labor Party leader Shimon Peres. From Jordan the senators will travel to Iraq, Egypt and Bahrain.
Hagel, whose name has been touted as a possible presidential contender in 2008, also sounded a very optimistic note.
"My sense of the two days that we spent here is one of considerable encouragement, both from Sharon, and his government officials, and Abu Mazen and Palestinian officials," he said. Without providing details, Hagel said the US will have to "play a significant role to facilitate" the Palestinian elections on January 9.
"It is important to engage in a more complete way than in the last four years," he said. Hagel said that once the Palestinian leaders elect their leaders, the US "must empower the new leaders in every way we can."
Feinstein criticized the Bush administration, saying "I frankly hope that my government is much more forceful in bringing the parties together in the next four years than it has in the last four years."
She also said Israel should explore overtures coming from Syrian President Bashar Assad, saying, "I don't think any stone can afford to be left unturned."
:thumbsup:
Dec. 1, 2004 23:46 | Updated Dec. 2, 2004 1:06
US senators upbeat about Mideast peace prospects
By HERB KEINON
A blue-ribbon US Senate delegation left Israel for Jordan Wednesday with its members buoyed by two days of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian Authority officials.
Joseph Biden (D-Delaware), the ranking Democrat on the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, said that in 32 years of coming to Israel, this was the first time that both Israelis and Palestinians sounded guardedly optimistic about the intentions of the other side.
"There is a sense among the Palestinian leadership that Prime Minister Sharon is serious about seeing change in the status quo, and moving forward on the road map and a two-state solution," Biden said at a Jerusalem press conference. "And with regard to the Israeli attitude, there is a sense that Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas]'s intentions are positive, and that for the first time in a long time there is an alignment of possible Palestinian leadership that will genuinely attempt to deal with security."
In addition to Biden, the delegation is composed of Chuck Hagel (R-Nebraska), Lincoln Cafee (R-Rhode Island), and Dianne Feinstein (D-California).
The delegation met with Abbas in the PA, and in Israel with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, and Labor Party leader Shimon Peres. From Jordan the senators will travel to Iraq, Egypt and Bahrain.
Hagel, whose name has been touted as a possible presidential contender in 2008, also sounded a very optimistic note.
"My sense of the two days that we spent here is one of considerable encouragement, both from Sharon, and his government officials, and Abu Mazen and Palestinian officials," he said. Without providing details, Hagel said the US will have to "play a significant role to facilitate" the Palestinian elections on January 9.
"It is important to engage in a more complete way than in the last four years," he said. Hagel said that once the Palestinian leaders elect their leaders, the US "must empower the new leaders in every way we can."
Feinstein criticized the Bush administration, saying "I frankly hope that my government is much more forceful in bringing the parties together in the next four years than it has in the last four years."
She also said Israel should explore overtures coming from Syrian President Bashar Assad, saying, "I don't think any stone can afford to be left unturned."
:thumbsup:
