JERUSALEM (Islamweb & News Agencies) - Washington's new Middle East troubleshooter was to return to the region on Thursday to try and rescue Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, only weeks after ending his first visit as violence raged.
Envoy Anthony Zinni aims to bring about a lasting cease-fire, encourage a Palestinian crackdown on militants and discuss with Israel steps to make life easier for the Palestinian people, a State Department spokesman said.
The retired U.S. Marine Corps general's first trip, in November and December, was met with one of the worst bouts of bloodshed of the 15-month Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation and made no progress on a peace plan at the center of Middle East diplomacy since April.
The region has been relatively calm for two weeks, but Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has insisted on seven days of complete quiet before moving to a U.S.-led truce-to-talks plan.
The Palestinians, who say the Israeli stance means a single gunman could block the peace effort, want immediate implementation of proposals leading to peacemaking.
A State Department spokesman declined to endorse Sharon's view of a week of total calm.
Zinni, who was called back to Washington on December 15, was to meet Israeli officials on Thursday and Palestinian officials on Friday. U.S. officials in Washington said that he and State Department mediator Aaron Miller had set off on Wednesday.
His trip was to last until early next week after which he will return to Washington to report to Secretary of State Colin Powell, Boucher said.
Washington wants the violence to end to maintain support in the Middle East for its pursuit of Osama bin Laden, who it says masterminded the September 11 attacks in the United States.