Israelis, Palestinians Urged to Strengthen Cease-fireFormer US senator George Mitchell on Monday called on Israelis and the Palestinians to take prompt steps to strengthen the cease-fire between the two sides."The level of violence is down, but the cease-fire must be strengthened with a full effort by both sides. Then there must be prompt movement to the next steps," Mitchell told a press conference held at the National Press Club here. Talking about current situation in the Middle East, the former senator said the cease-fire mediated by U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director George Tenet two week ago is "obviously not fully effective." Mitchell, who chaired an international fact-finding panel on the Middle East conflict, presented a report in May with recommendations advising Israelis and the Palestinians on how to end the violence in the region, rebuild the confidence and resume meaningful negotiations. "The greatest danger of all is that the culture of peace nurtured over the previous decade is being shattered," he noted. " In its place, there is a growing sense of futility and despair, and a growing resort to violence," he warned. Mitchell urged political leaders on both sides to act and speak decisively to reserves "these dangerous trends", saying that they must rekindle the desire and the drive for peace. "That will be difficult, but it can be done, and it must be done, for the alternative is unacceptable and should be unthinkable," he said. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon arrived in New York on Monday and is expected to meet U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday. This is the second time for Sharon to visit Washington since Bush assumed the U.S. presidency in January. |
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