James Wolfensohn, newly named to represent major powers in coordinating Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, said on Sunday he plans to visit Israel and Gaza as early as next week. Wolfensohn, the departing president of the World Bank, said he would focus in his new role on economic and social development in Palestinian territories and on marshaling international support. "What I am hoping to do is to help them, particularly on the issues of economic and social development, and trying to bring the international community together in support of both restoration of hope in the Palestinian territories and new outlook for people in terms of jobs, in terms of opportunities," he said. Wolfensohn spoke to reporters on the sidelines of World Bank meetings in Washington. He is due to leave the World Bank post at the end of May, but the bank's board has given him permission to begin work early in his new role. Asked when he would travel to Israel and the Gaza Strip, he said, "Very possibly next week." The Australian-born Wolfensohn in his new job will represent the "quartet" of Middle East peace mediators of the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations. --More 2241 Local Time 1941 GMT
