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Clinton: Mitchell Visit Begins "Diplomatic Force Projection" in the Middle East

[State Department] Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday called special envoy George Mitchell's visit to the Middle East "diplomatic force projection" and "the first of what will be an ongoing, high level of engagement by Senator Mitchell on behalf of myself and the President. We are looking to work with all of the parties to try to help them make progress toward a negotiated agreement that would end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, create an independent and viable Palestinian state in both the West Bank and Gaza, and provide Israel with the peace and security that it has sought." Mitchell said he was planning to "establish a regular and sustained presence in the region." When asked about a diplomatic path to Hamas, Clinton noted, "We have a very clear policy toward Hamas, and Hamas knows the conditions that have been set forth. They must renounce violence. They must recognize Israel. And they must agree to abide by prior agreements that were entered into by the Palestinian Authority....Our conditions with respect to Hamas have not and will not change." "Hamas knows that it must stop the rocket fire into Israel. There were rockets yesterday, there were rockets this morning. And it is very difficult to ask any nation to do anything other than defend itself in the wake of that kind of consistent attack."
2009-02-04 06:00:00
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