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Envoy Mitchell heads to Middle East

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell went to the region Monday for talks on the peace process and Gaza, the U.S. State Department said.

Mitchell and other members of the State Department also will visit Egypt, Israel, the West Bank, Jordan and Saudi Arabia as part of his trip, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said.

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"The administration will actively and aggressive seek a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as Israel and its neighbors," Wood said.

The former U.S. Senate majority leader from Maine was expected to work to consolidate the cease-fire in Gaza and establish an effective, credible anti-smuggling and interdiction system to prevent re-arming Hamas, as well as facilitate the reopening of border crossings.

Wood said Mitchell "will not have contact with Hamas," even indirectly through Egyptian channels during his trip that ends Feb. 3. He also isn't scheduled to go to Gaza.

"He is in a listening mode," Wood said. "He wants to talk to all of the ... regional leaders and try to get ... the peace process back on track."

Wood said the Middle East peace process begun under the Bush administration would be reviewed by President Barack Obama's administration.

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"(What) we're about is trying to strengthen and build up these Palestinian institutions so that one day the Palestinian Authority will be able to ... manage the affairs of a new state, once we get to that two-state solution," he said.

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