LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW) -- Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) said he is hopeful the President's trip through Israel, the West Bank and Jordan will strengthen relations between the U.S. and the Middle East.
Kind said he would like to see the president discuss a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with both the West Bank's Mahmoud Abbas as well as Israel's president, Shimon Peres, and prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
"All roads to stability in the region run through the Israeli-Palestinian dispute," Kind said by phone from the U.S. Capitol, "and reaching a dual state solution with security guarantees."
The congressman said he expects Obama and Netanyahu to discuss a specific "path forward" on a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"A two state solution is the only path forward, because the demographics don't currently work for the Israeli government," Kind said. "As more Palestinians grow, (Israel) might find itself to be a minority governing party and that's unsustainable in any democracy."
"Everyone understands what the end game looks like," Kind said. "What needs to occur is developing the process and political will for how to get there."
Obama will visit Jerusalem and Ramallah, in the West Bank, on Thursday.
His trip will conclude Saturday after a visit to Petra, Jordan.
