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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| John McCain holds talks in Israel | John McCain holds talks in Israel |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US senator and presidential hopeful John McCain is in Israel as part of a tour of the Middle East and Europe. | |
| Mr McCain, who is set to be the Republicans' presidential candidate this autumn, met Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. | Mr McCain, who is set to be the Republicans' presidential candidate this autumn, met Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. |
| In a joint news conference, Mr McCain reaffirmed his commitment to Israel and attacked the Islamist militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. | In a joint news conference, Mr McCain reaffirmed his commitment to Israel and attacked the Islamist militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. |
| Senator McCain is also due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. | Senator McCain is also due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. |
| 'Same understanding' | 'Same understanding' |
| "If Hamas and Hezbollah succeed here, they are going to succeed everywhere," Mr McCain told reporters. | "If Hamas and Hezbollah succeed here, they are going to succeed everywhere," Mr McCain told reporters. |
| "They are dedicated to the extinction of everything that the US, Israel and the West believe and stand for," he added. | "They are dedicated to the extinction of everything that the US, Israel and the West believe and stand for," he added. |
| His sentiments were echoed by the Israeli foreign minister. | His sentiments were echoed by the Israeli foreign minister. |
| "I know that we share the same understanding of the nature of the crisis in the region," said Ms Livni. | "I know that we share the same understanding of the nature of the crisis in the region," said Ms Livni. |
| Mr McCain also spoke on the telephone with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, afterwards telling the media that Mr Abbas "wants to get this [peace] process started". | Mr McCain also spoke on the telephone with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, afterwards telling the media that Mr Abbas "wants to get this [peace] process started". |
| He added that Mr Abbas "does not support the kind of activity that is taking place in Gaza", a reference to the rocket attacks on southern Israel launched from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. | He added that Mr Abbas "does not support the kind of activity that is taking place in Gaza", a reference to the rocket attacks on southern Israel launched from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. |
| Mr McCain will hold talks with Mr Olmert and Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak later on Wednesday, before flying to London for meetings with UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. | Mr McCain will hold talks with Mr Olmert and Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak later on Wednesday, before flying to London for meetings with UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. |
| He will also visit France for talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy before heading back to the US. | |
| Correspondents say Mr McCain's tour is good for his electoral prospects, because it will enable him to appear statesmanlike and presidential, while his potential Democratic opponents are still fighting for their party's nomination. | Correspondents say Mr McCain's tour is good for his electoral prospects, because it will enable him to appear statesmanlike and presidential, while his potential Democratic opponents are still fighting for their party's nomination. |