Middle East

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03 February 2009
Special Envoy Mitchell to Return to Middle East This Month

By Merle David Kellerhals Jr.
Staff Writer

Washington — Middle East special envoy George Mitchell is beginning what will become high-level engagement by the United States in trying to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, says Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Mitchell just completed an eight-day mission of consultations with several Middle Eastern leaders to keep the United States actively engaged in finding a resolution to the stalemate plaguing the long-running peace process.

“We are looking to work with all the parties to try to help them make progress toward a negotiated agreement that would end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, create an independent and viable Palestinian state in both the West Bank and Gaza, and provide Israel with the peace and security that it has sought,” Clinton said February 3 during a State Department briefing with Mitchell.

Mitchell will return to the region before the end of February, Clinton said. “We are just at the beginning of this deep and consistent engagement,” she said.

Mitchell, appointed special envoy January 22, traveled to Egypt, Israel, the West Bank, Jordan and Saudi Arabia before stopping in Paris on his return. Clinton and Mitchell are expected to meet with President Obama February 4 at the White House for a full briefing on Mitchell’s meetings with Middle Eastern leaders.

Part of Mitchell’s mission has been to consolidate gains after a Gaza cease-fire was implemented in late January by Israel and Hamas, establish an effective anti-smuggling and interdiction regime to prevent Hamas from rearming, help reopen border crossings, and develop an effective response to the humanitarian needs of the Palestinians in Gaza and Gaza reconstruction.

“It’s extremely difficult for all concerned there now, and they recognize widely that American diplomacy can, and I believe will, be helpful in resolving the differences and moving forward toward the peace and stability that everyone wants,” Mitchell said at the briefing. “The situation is obviously complex and difficult, and there are no easy or risk-free courses of action.”

Clinton said the United States is working with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. And Clinton also repeated the demand that Hamas meet several conditions before it can join discussions on the future of the Palestinian state.

“Hamas knows the conditions that have been set forth. They must renounce violence. They must recognize Israel. And they must agree to abide by prior agreements that were entered into by the Palestinian Authority,” she said. “Our conditions with respect to Hamas have not and will not change.”

Continuing rocket attacks from inside Gaza into southern Israel do little to improve security and improve the peace process, she said.

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