Senator Chuck Hagel (Republican of Nebraska) says U.S. efforts in Iraq will impact the entire Middle East, and he urges "the same focused leadership" in pursuing the newly released "roadmap" to resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as that applied to Iraq. President Bush released the roadmap April 30. Hagel issued his statement May 1 following Bush's address to the nation from the USS Abraham Lincoln off the coast of California. Following is the text of Hagel's statement: President Bush announced to the country tonight that major fighting in Iraq has ended. I join the president in commending our men and women in the Armed Forces for their courage, commitment, service, and sacrifice. The U.S. and our coalition partners have ended Saddam Hussein's brutal regime and offered the people of Iraq the hope and opportunity for a new beginning. We now face the challenge of bringing stability to Iraq and aiding Iraqis in the transition to democratic government. Our efforts in Iraq will impact the entire Middle East. We must work with our allies to ensure continued success and help forge a lasting peace in the region. This will include seeking a comprehensive resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This is critically important. President Bush deserves support for his commitment to a "roadmap" for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. We must provide the same focused leadership on the "roadmap" as we have on our efforts in Iraq. (end text)