LOS ANGELES, Dec. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, the Honorable George J. Mitchell spoke to members of the Pacific Council on International Policy about tensions between Israel and Hamas, challenges posed by Iran's nuclear program, and the current crisis in Egypt. Although it has as yet been impossible to reach an agreement for Israeli-Palestinian peace, Senator Mitchell expressed hopefulness that this will eventually happen, because it is in the interest of both sides. Meanwhile, the United States is in the best position to help negotiate.

Senator Mitchell's discussion with former California congressman Mel Levine, who served as moderator, also touched on events of the Arab Awakening. He noted that western nations should not expect quick resolutions to continuing unrest in the region: historically, similar transitions have taken years. Furthermore, governments overturned in revolutions have not always been replaced by something better, he pointed out.

Senator George Mitchell served in the U.S. Senate from 1980 to 1995 and was Senate Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995. He was instrumental in negotiating a peace agreement in Northern Ireland, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Senator Mitchell most recently served as the U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace from 2009 until 2011.

The Pacific Council in International Policy (www.pacificcouncil.org), headquartered in Los Angeles, is the premier membership-based international affairs organization on the west coast of the United States. The Pacific Council is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by the Honorable Mickey Kantor, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative, and Ambassador Robert H. Tuttle, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Dr. Jerrold D. Green serves as President and CEO of the Pacific Council.

CONTACT:         
Melissa Lockhart Fortner
Senior External Affairs Officer
Pacific Council on International Policy
213-221-2016 (direct)
mlockhart@pacificcouncil.org

SOURCE Pacific Council on International Policy