Congress and the Bush administration have discussed scenarios
to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a post-Saddam Middle East that include the deployment of U.S. troops.
The proposed use of U.S. forces would be in such areas as the Jordan
Valley, which is regarded as vital by Israel but claimed by the
Palestinians. Officials said the presence of U.S. troops along the Jordan
River could resolve Israeli security needs without encountering Palestinian
resistance, Middle East Newsline reported.
The prospect of deploying U.S. troops in the West Bank and Gaza Strip
was raised by a leading Republican senator regarded as close to President
George Bush. Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican from Nevada, told the Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace on Nov. 14 that the United States must
extend its military presence in the Middle East as part of its commitment to
the region.
"We should be prepared for the likelihood of the extension of American
and international peace-keepers in the Middle East, as well as other regions
of the world," Hagel said. "This could eventually include the border between
Israel and a new Palestinian state Ñ when there is finally a peace to keep
between Israel and the Palestinians. This agenda for intensive American
engagement in the Middle East is borne of necessity, not ambition."
"There is a debate whether the United States should become directly
involved militarily in the Middle East or rely on allies," a congressional
source involved in the discussions said. "The feeling by some key figures
in Congress is that the failed effort to draft Arab allies against Iraq
means we have to do it ourselves in the Middle East."
Officials said the Bush administration has not approved any proposal for
U.S. troops in the West Bank or Gaza Strip. They said the Defense Department
has consistently opposed the deployment of American forces in Palestinian
areas out of concern that they will become targets of insurgents.
On Tuesday afternoon, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian woman in
El-Bireh near the West Bank town of Ramallah when the car she was travelling
in failed to stop at the Surda checkpoint.
