Colin Powell’s tour of the Middle East was supposed to be a post-Iraq diplomatic victory lap, designed to show the U.S. commitment to solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and promote democracy in the region. But Powell hit roadblocks every step of the way.
The new Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas has agreed to new road map in principle, but faces the difficult task of preventing suicide attacks. Meanwhile, Israel’s Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon is refusing to freeze all settlement activity and demanding new concessions from the Palestinians. And while diplomacy falters in Tel Aviv and Gaza, bombs ripped through Saudi Arabia claiming lives and renewing fears of widespread terrorism.
Why bringing peace to the Middle East may need more than a map.
Guests:
Rami Khouri, Executive Editor of the Daily Star newspaper in Beirut Lebanon, and an internationally syndicated columnist
Sulaiman Al-Kahtani, commentator for Al-Riyadh newspaper
Chemi Shalev
political commentator for Ma’ariv newspaper – based in Tel
Aviv.