
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will give new focus to reviving talks between Israelis and Palestinians, the State Department said.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Rice will visit the region next year to work toward the resumption of talks between the parties, USA Today reported Friday.
"You are going to see her devote a tremendous amount of energy and ... focus to create conditions" allowing the recommencement of peace talks, McCormack said.
The announcement came one day after James Baker and Lee Hamilton, co-leaders of the Iraq Study Group, recommended that the White House work toward helping to resolve the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, as the ongoing struggle makes stability in Iraq more difficult to obtain.
"We need to improve things for the United States in the Middle East generally," said Baker.
Hamilton, a former chairman of the House International Relations Committee, said Arab-Israeli peace would improve U.S. "standing and credibility" throughout the region.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Additional Top News Stories | |
CHICAGO, June 4 (UPI) --
A 21-year-old Chicago-area man is about to become the youngest person ever to receive a medical degree from the University of Chicago, officials say.
|
SAN FRANCISCO, June 3 (UPI) --
"Grey's Anatomy" creator Shonda Rhimes, was honored at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards in San Francisco, the organization said.
|
BERLIN, June 4 (UPI) --
An expanded Nord Stream gas pipeline is possible, comments from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin have indicated.
|
Students get city to allow chickens ... Waitress gets half-million-dollar refund ... Italy introduces ice cream for dogs ... High school junior brings 'Bieber' to prom ... Watercooler stories from UPI.
|
| Stories | Photos | People | Comments |
View Caption