Mideast summit provides new encouragement for US peace efforts

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2005

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Plans for the first Israeli-Palestinian summit in more than four years offered new encouragement to the United States as it geared to boost its role in efforts to end the Middle East conflict.

The Red Sea summit was scheduled next Tuesday, a day after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was to be in Jerusalem and the West Bank seeking to keep up the momentum in the newly revived peace process.

Washington expressed satisfaction with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's move to sit down with the new Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas after shunning his late predecessor, Yasser Arafat.

"That's an encouraging step that's being taken," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.

A senior US official who asked not to be named...