It is my honor to welcome Ambassador David Hale, United States Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, to present a letter to ATFP from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Ambassador Hale has had a very distinguished career in the Foreign Service, which began in 1984.

He has served as United States Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and before that Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d'affaires. He has also been the State Department's Director of the Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, and Executive Assistant to the Secretary of State.

Throughout his career, David has been a tireless and creative advocate for peace. We cannot be more fortunate for having a dedicated public servant of the caliber of Ambassador Hale entrusted with such an issue of crucial importance to our national security interest.

I am delighted to welcome my good friend David.