Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak became the latest international figure to urge President Bush to become more involved in the violent standoff between Israelis and Palestinians.

The United States has mostly stayed out of the conflict over the past several months, with President Bush saying that no peace negotiations were possible until there is an end to the violence. Vice President Dick Cheney is on his way to the region to discuss the matter with Middle Eastern leaders, but he is not expected to meet with Yasser Arafat.

President Bush has taken the opposite approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict than that of President Clinton, who saw the U.S. as the key broker for peace in the region. Neither approach has been particularly successful.

This hour, America’s role in the Middle East conflict. Should the United States be more involved in bringing about peace?

Guests:

Marc Gopin, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy/ Tufts University

expert on Middle East Conflict Resolution

Mohammed Abu-Nimer, professor at the School of International Service at American University

specialist in peace and conflict resolution