[Carol Costello, Cnn Anchor:] Thirty-nine killed in two days, and there are vows of more violence in the Middle East. The war of words also escalating this morning with the Palestinians accusing the Israelis of destroying their ability to rein in Hamas. Israeli missiles struck a car in Gaza City, killing a senior Hamas militant and six others, including the man's wife and infant daughter, 25 others were wounded. Israeli military sources also say two Islamic Jihad militants were killed in the West Bank. On Wednesday, a Hamas suicide bomber killed 17 people aboard a bus in Jerusalem. Scores more were injured. We know the White House is sending an envoy to the area this weekend. So, what else can it do to resurrect that road map to peace? Live to the White House now and John King. Good morning John.
[John King, Cnn Senior White House Correspondent:] Good morning to you, Carol. The president's top two Washington-based aides on this issue Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice took the lead late yesterday in pushing diplomacy. Both Secretary Powell and Condoleezza Rice calling senior Israeli and Palestinian officials, urging them to try to find a way to break the cycle of violence and to get back into a period of relative calm. Now, both leaders also appealing to Israeli and Palestinian officials to do everything they can do crack down on terrorism. We are told, for example, in a call with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel that Condoleezza Rice told Prime Minister Sharon that the Bush administration certainly supports Israeli efforts to crack down on terror. We also are told, though, that she urged the Israeli government to keep in mind that the main goal here is to create a climate of peace. So, as the Israeli government cracks down on terrorism, Condoleezza Rice hoping it does so in a way that does not further alienate the Palestinian Authority. One thing Condoleezza Rice insisting in a speech in Los Angeles yesterday, she says as the Bush administration presses here to find a break in the violence that both the Israelis and the Palestinians are being bluntly told by the Bush administration that even though there has been a cycle of violence in recent days, a rising death toll, escalating rhetoric, as you just pointed out, the president expects both Prime Minister Sharon and Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority to keep the promises they made to the president last week when they promised to implement the early steps of the so- called road map to peace.
[Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor:] President Bush remains committed to the course set at Aqaba, because it is the only course that will bring a durable peace and lasting security. This president keeps his promises. He expects all the parties to keep theirs.
[King:] New presidential envoy John Wolf, Ambassador John Wolf, he's currently an assistant secretary of state, will be in the region by Sunday, U.S. officials say. Now, with him will be a team of diplomats and security experts, including, we are told, some CIA officials. Their job is to try to monitor developments on the ground. Their initial job, Carol, was to monitor progress in implementing the road map. Officials say now they will add to that portfolio, unfortunately, the job of monitoring any violence and responses to violence, trying to convince the Israelis and the Palestinians that they must find a way to improve security, break the cycle of violence and create a period of calm, and from there try to move forward on the path to peace.
[Costello:] Talk about your tall orders. Thank you, John King, reporting live from the White House this morning.