WASHINGTON, March 9 (UPI) -- A U.S. diplomatic team will leave for Israel Wednesday for talks on Israel's plan to withdraw unilaterally from the Gaza Strip.
A U.S. State Department official said Tuesday the team -- Assistant Secretary of State William Burns, deputy national security adviser Stephen Hadley and the National Security Council's Middle East expert, Elliott Abrams -- will discuss Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip if he can't reach a peace deal with the Palestinians.
Also Tuesday, Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher said he and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell had discussed the Israeli proposal.
"I think that if this is done in the context of the 'road map,' if this is done in the coordination with the Palestinians, then this might present an opportunity," he said.
Speaking with Muasher, Powell said the Palestinians also had to do their job.
"Will the Palestinian Authority be prepared for the task of managing the region?" he asked.
The U.S. team is expected to address these issues.
