Washington - Jesse Jackson Plans Humanitarian Trip to Mideast

Washington - Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson plans to travel to the Middle East to lead a group of Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders to shore up the cease-fire in Lebanon and ensure humanitarian aid was administered properly.
"We're appealing for the cease-fire to continue and to address the humanitarian crisis and we want to know the status of all the people in prison, all of them," Jackson said.

Jackson said he would visit Syria first, where he is to meet with President Assad on Monday, and then travel to Lebanon Tuesday and Wednesday before traveling to Israel.
He said he had tried to go to the region during the height of the fighting but had been unable to get in.
"Now there is a window and we are organizing a humanitarian mission," he said.

Jackson said he would also work to ensure Jewish soldiers captured by Hizbollah and Palestinian prisoners were treated humanely and released. "We hope all sides can see the value of reconciliation and ending the course of contention," he said.