In an interview with the London-based
Al Hayat, Petraeus supported the intensified efforts by the administration
of U.S. President Barack Obama to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Middle East Newsline reported.
"I think that many things would be improved with the resolution of this
issue," Petraeus said. "There is no doubt that with a just solution
acceptable to all parties and supported by them, there will be no place for
various reasons cited by some countries and movements."
Petraeus linked an
Israeli-Palestinian peace accord to the safety of American troops in the
Middle East and other regions of Asia.
Central Command has been responsible for U.S. military operations in 20
countries, including Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Israel and Turkey
have been among the few Middle East states assigned to the U.S. European
Command.
In the interview on June 1, Petraeus said the resolution of the
Palestinian issue was "absolutely essential" for his work as Centcom chief.
He said the failure to resolve the conflict was a factor in the threat to
U.S. forces in the Middle East.
"In fact, I think it is one of the many factors that play a role in the
matter," Petraeus said. "There is no doubt that one of these factors
could address some of them."
Petraeus did not specify the threat by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
on U.S. forces in the region. More than 4,300 U.S. soldiers have been killed
in the war in Iraq since 2003.
But the general said a U.S. effort to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict would promote cooperation with Washington throughout the Arab
world.
