Pentagon advances Obama trip to Israel with push for peace process

Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military, on the eve of a visit by President
Barack Obama, has urged an initiative for an Arab-Israeli settlement.

The military’s Central Command said the establishment of a Palestinian
state in the West Bank would be required for Middle East stability. Centcom
said a U.S.-led peace process could also neutralize Al Qaida and its allies
in the region.

Marine Gen. James Mattis, commander, U.S. Central Command, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 5, 2013, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2014 and the Future Years Defense Program. /AP/Evan Vucci — Gen. James Mattis testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 5. /AP/Evan Vucci

“We are now at a point where a re-energized Middle East peace effort
could pay significant dividends in terms of regional security since the
status quo benefits no one and violent extremists use the issue for their
own purposes,” Centcom chief Gen. James Mattis said.

In testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 5, Mattis said the failure of an Israeli-Palestinian agreement was contributing to turmoil in the Middle East. The general also warned that stability depended on a viable Palestinian Authority and its transformation into an independent state.

“It is essential that we maintain the viability of the Palestinian
Authority as a partner for peace and security, and preserve the two-state
solution,” Mattis said.

The testimony was submitted as Obama prepared his first visit to
Israel as president. Officials said the president would press Israel and the
PA to reach an agreement to facilitate a Palestinian state in 2014.

Centcom has assessed that U.S. policy in the Middle East must focus on
the relationship with Israel and other allies as well as Gulf energy
supplies and counter-insurgency. In his last appearance to the Senate panel,
Mattis said Centcom was working with the State Department and other civilian
agencies in an effort to maintain influence with a smaller military
presence.

“U.S. Central Command’s approach — working in tandem with the State
Department and other agencies through a whole of government approach — is
to protect our interests using fewer military resources in an era of fiscal
restraint and political change,” Mattis said.

Centcom, independent Palestinian state, Pentagon advances Obama trip to Israel with push for peace process, Senate Armed Services Committee

Pentagon advances Obama trip to Israel with push for peace process added by World Tribune on March 14, 2013
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