Arab League chief urges U.S. to play honest broker role in Mideast

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said in Houston, Texas on Tuesday that the United States should play a honest broker role in the Middle East, U.S. media reported.

"There's no doubt that this conflict cannot be resolved without an active involvement of the United States playing a role of an honest broker," Moussa, Arab League secretary general, said during opening remarks of the U.S.-Arab Economic Forum being held in Houston.

"Only the role of an honest broker played by the U.S. will clear the image of the U.S. policy in the Middle East," Moussa said.

Moussa said that the conflicts between Israel and the Palestinians could "make or break" stability in the Middle East region and his message to the United States is to "help solve this problem fairly and honestly."

There has been heightened tension between the two sides over the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier. The Israeli soldier, identified as Gilad Shalit, was missing after a predawn Sunday attack by eight militants from the three Palestinian groups on an Israeli military post near the Gaza border. Two other Israeli soldiers were killed and four wounded in the assault.

In the wake of the deadly attack, Israeli troops intruded into the Gaza Strip in the largest incursion since Israel pulled out forces and settlers from the Gaza Strip last summer after a 38- year-long presence there.

Source: Xinhua