Bush Sends Powell to the Middle East

In a major policy revision today, President Bush announced that he is sending Secretary of State Colin Powell to the Middle East next week. Powell's mission is to work for an immediate cease-fire, Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian lands, and the implementation of the Tenet and Mitchell plans.

On Point looks at the new U.S. posture on Israel, and how its Arab neighbors might react.

Guests:

Ambassador Ned Walker, President of the Middle East Institute in Washington, author of a bi-monthly column in Al Hayat - an Arabic language daily newspaper in the Middle East, former Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at the US State Dept, former Ambassador to Israel (1997-99), former Ambassador to Arab Republic of Egypt (1994- 97), former Deputy Permanent Representative of the US to the United Nations (1993-94), and former Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (1989-92)

Harvey Morris, Jerusalem Correspondent for The Financial Times with the lastest news from the Middle East.