Diplomat: U.S. to take larger role in Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria (CNN) -- The United States is preparing to take a larger role in the Middle East, a senior Western diplomat visiting Syria said Thursday.

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The official said the United States will invite Palestinian diplomats to Washington as a way of setting the stage for a possible visit by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

In a shift in policy, the diplomat said that the United States also would welcome increased involvement from the European Union, Russia, and Arab states in the region in attempts to curb the violence in the Middle East.

Since the Bush administration has been in office, the United States has taken a more restrained role than the activist policies practiced by the Clinton administration.

Break in policy

The first hint of a break in that policy occurred this week when U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell criticized an Israeli occupation of a small section of the Gaza strip as "excessive."

The Palestinians have said they hope that the Bush administration will become more involved.

But Palestinian sources said the ideas of Palestinian officials going to Washington and a later trip by Arafat -- possibly to meet with Bush or Powell -- were still in the very early stages.

The Western diplomat told CNN, "Obviously we have to get engaged more."

U.S. to encourage European role

He said two or three Palestinian officials would be invited to come to Washington "in the next few days."

While it is "probably still too early" to invite Arafat to come, the official said, discussions would pave the way for that to happen soon.

The diplomat said Israel and the Palestinians also could expect to see a more active role from U.S. officials stationed in the Middle East.

The official said the United States would like to see a more active role by the Europeans, Russians, and "some Arab countries."

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