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Albright heads for tough Mideast assignment
September 9, 1997
Web posted at: 12:30 p.m. EDT (1630 GMT)WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A nervous and volatile Mideast awaits U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who left Tuesday for her debut tour of the region. Observers say she faces a tall order in her attempt to restart peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
Albright's first Middle East tour since she took office in January is scheduled to take her through Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Israel and areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority. She may also visit Lebanon.
The U.S. State Department says she plans to consult with leaders of those countries on various issues, including the security of the Persian Gulf.
But her attempt to restart peace talks between Palestinian and Israeli officials is the first priority. She will meet separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat in the first two days of her trip.
Last week's multi-suicide bombing in the heart of Jerusalem, the second such bombing in five weeks, both simplifies and complicates the secretary's mission.
Once again, the United States may turn its focus to Arafat's attitude toward Hamas terrorists who claimed responsibility for last week's attack.
Netanyahu has accused Arafat of facilitating their operations, of effectively turning "the Palestinian-controlled areas into safe havens and bases of terrorist organizations."
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For the time being, the heat may be off Israel.
But the attacks have left the region on edge, a fact that may complicate Albright's trip.
"It will take much more than one visit by Madeleine Albright to deal with the damages inflicted on the peace process by the government of Mr. Netanyahu," said Palestinian council member Saeb Erekat.
The Israeli government insists that security is first priority. But the Palestinians demand that Israel not violate its main commitments under the 1993 Oslo interim peace accords: to hand over more West Bank land, and to stop settlement expansion. Israel's other peace partners, Egypt and Jordan, have taken the Palestinian Authority's side.
The Palestinians are especially angered by a continuing major Israeli project on Jerusalem's southeastern outskirts.
"As someone who initiated the agreement four years ago, I can tell you both sides are not keeping to the deal," said Uri Savir, an architect of the Oslo peace accord.
The key question in Albright's trip, analysts say, is whether Albright will confront Netanyahu after taking on Arafat. Analyst Makowski said he thinks she will hold off, for now.
Expectations are low that Albright will achieve much with her trip. But all sides hope that she will at least stop a slide into open conflict between Palestinians and Israelis.
Correspondent Jerrold Kessel contributed to this report.
- Message Board: Mideast Conflict
- Newsmaker Profile: Benjamin Netanyahu - Israeli Prime Minister
- Newsmaker Profile: Yasser Arafat - Palestinian Leader
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- Albright faces difficult task in Mideast - September 8, 1997
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- Israel will go after Islamic militants - September 5, 1997
- 7 killed by bomb blasts in Jerusalem - September 4, 1997
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- Palestinian National Authority
- ArabNet
- Jerusalem Post Internet Edition
- Israeli Foreign Ministry
- Virtual Jerusalem
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