Pompeo urges peace talks return in Israel

AMMAN, JORDAN >> Secretary of State Mike Pompeo finished his whirlwind Middle East tour Monday with an emphasis on peacemaking efforts in the region.

Pompeo urged Palestinians to re-engage in stalled talks seeking peace with Israel and called for a political resolution to the fighting in Syria, even as he excoriated Iran for what he described as its “malign influence” and activity in the area.

His comments came during a news conference in the Jordanian capital, Amman, after a meeting with Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s foreign minister.

“We’re going to make progress on these key regional issues, and we will move forward to ensure a stable and safe Middle East,” Pompeo said.

Although he did not meet with Palestinian officials during his multiday visit to the region, Pompeo urged that they return to “political dialogue” and insisted that a resolution to the longstanding conflict with Israel was “an incredible priority” for the United States.

“We’re certainly open to a (two-state) solution as a likely outcome,” he said.

He did not criticize Israel’s use of deadly force in dealing with mass protests in recent weeks near the Gaza Strip border, where Israeli troops shot and killed 45 Palestinians and wounded thousands.

“We believe the Israelis have the right to defend themselves, and we’re fully supportive of that,” he said.

Pompeo, who served as CIA director before becoming secretary of state last week, said the U.S. had not taken a position “on boundaries or borders,” which he said would remain subject to negotiation.