Davis visiting Mideast to learn, promote peace

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jim Davis has embarked on a weeklong tour of the Middle East to help preserve the peace with Iraq, shore up support for the war on terror, and promote peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

In a telephone interview from Egypt on Thursday, the Tampa Democrat said he had visited with leaders in Syria and Lebanon.

He also had meetings scheduled in Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Jordan.

The trip, sponsored by the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation, marks the second time in a year that Davis, a member of the House International Relations Committee, has traveled to the region. "It's important to understand what's going on in this part of the world," Davis said, adding, "One of the things I'm trying to do is further educate myself about these countries."

He is also, Davis said, trying to promote peace.

While he supports the threat of force against Iraq, Davis said he would rather see a peaceful resolution. "I am not giving up hope that we can force Saddam Hussein to disarm peacefully."

In Syria, Davis met with President Bashar Assad. He said he urged Assad to crack down on terrorist groups, including Hezbollah, which operates out of Syria and targets Israel.

Sen. Bob Graham , the Florida Democrat who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, has said that the administration's focus on Iraq is a distraction from the war on terrorism and that Syria and Iran, as state sponsors of terrorism, should be the first targets of any U.S. campaign.

In Israel, Davis said, he had a meeting scheduled with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and other Israeli leaders as well as Palestinians. In Saudi Arabia, he is meeting with Crown Prince Abdullah.

"As the holidays approach," Davis said in announcing the trip, "many service men and women in Tampa Bay are being called to duty and sent abroad as part of the United States' efforts to fight terrorism and in preparation for a possible military engagement in Iraq. As their congressman, and as a member of the House International Relations Committee, I feel a responsibility, now more than ever, to strengthen our international coalition and work toward peaceful resolutions to the security issues at hand."

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