WASHINGTON, April 3 — The Bush administration began shifting its Middle East policy today after widespread criticism, promising quicker and deeper involvement in searching for a political solution, perhaps even before violence ends.
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, appearing tonight on the CBS television program "60 Minutes II," said for the first time that Israel's military operations in the West Bank, which expanded significantly today, should not be open-ended. "There should be a time dimension to how long" Prime Minister Ariel Sharon continues the campaign against the Palestinian Authority, he said.
Earlier in the day, speaking to reporters at the State Department, Secretary Powell said "my mind is open" to meeting next week with those involved the conflict, during his visit to Germany and Spain.
Until now the White House had always deflected questions about sending Secretary Powell or another high-level official to work face to face on the problem, rather than over the telephone. That was so even given the apparent failure of the third visit to the region by a special envoy, Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, and mounting frustration with the administration's approach among Arab and European allies. www.nytimes.com/2002/04/04/international/middleeast/04PREX.html
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, appearing tonight on the CBS television program "60 Minutes II," said for the first time that Israel's military operations in the West Bank, which expanded significantly today, should not be open-ended. "There should be a time dimension to how long" Prime Minister Ariel Sharon continues the campaign against the Palestinian Authority, he said.
Earlier in the day, speaking to reporters at the State Department, Secretary Powell said "my mind is open" to meeting next week with those involved the conflict, during his visit to Germany and Spain.
Until now the White House had always deflected questions about sending Secretary Powell or another high-level official to work face to face on the problem, rather than over the telephone. That was so even given the apparent failure of the third visit to the region by a special envoy, Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, and mounting frustration with the administration's approach among Arab and European allies. www.nytimes.com/2002/04/04/international/middleeast/04PREX.html