Columnist Trude B. Feldman: Gore hopes to further peace in Middle East

Saturday, Nov. 4, 2000 | 3:27 a.m.

Trude B. Feldman is a White House correspondent for the Sun.

Albert Gore Jr. was born six weeks before the modern State of Israel was established in May 1948. In 1998, when both Gore and Israel turned 50, the vice president was in the Jewish state for its golden jubilee. And throughout his professional life, Gore has shown unwavering concern for Israel's welfare.

Today Vice President Gore says that if he becomes president, one of his highest priorities will be to help bring about a cessation of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

"I want peace with security," the vice president told me. "The best interests of both Israelis and Palestinians are in the peace process, not in escalation of conflict. The violence must stop so that the two sides can build confidence and restart solid negotiations."

He also expresses heartfelt condolences to the families of the dead and injured, both Palestinians and Israelis who have suffered in the fighting. "My heart goes out to both peoples," he says. "They must seek peace with justice and they themselves must decide on how to make that peace with justice a reality."

Vice President Gore, in an interview on Monday, gives his views on the Mideast crises in a Q & A format:

Feldman: What common goal is there in American foreign policy in the Mideast that both Arab and Jewish communities in the U.S. should now be supporting?

Gore: The two communities know that there must be an immediate halt to the violence so that negotiations can restart. The goal remains the same -- a full and just peace with security for all. In the past, the parties have been close to some fundamental solution. Now they must overcome the trauma of violence if they are to again start to build peace in the region.

Q: How much and in what way were you involved in Mideast policy in the past eight years? And as president after Jan. 21, what strategies would you use to bring about a comprehensive peace?

A: In the past eight years I've been close to all of the major foreign policy initiatives and have dealt with crises as a genuine partner in the administration. In the Mideast, we must now intensively pursue ways to end the violence and to get the parties back to the peace process. The U.S. role is to be a facilitator in this process, and I believe that this constructive role must continue.

Q: To what extent does oil play a role in the current Mideast powder keg?

A: Major Mideast oil producing states share our view that the oil market should remain stable with reasonable, not excessive prices for the long-term good health of the world economy on which the oil producing states themselves depend.

Q: Many countries either side with Mr. Arafat or refuse to condemn his addiction to violence because, in so doing, it might affect the availability of reasonably priced Mideast oil. How do you live with this reality?

A: We should not be afraid to condemn violence whatever its source because of concern over oil. As I just explained, Mideast oil producers themselves for good reason, do not want to use oil as a weapon, and our strategic petroleum reserve is there.

Q: Do you think that the current upheaval in the Mideast will play a pivotal role in our elections on Tuesday?

A: No one should believe that creating a crisis in the Mideast can influence the outcome of our elections, and anyone who does would be seriously mistaken. I believe the current crises come from long-standing and deeply rooted differences and problems between the parties, not an effort to influence our elections. Should I be elected president, my experience in, and knowledge of the Mideast will help me to deal competently with crises around the world.