U.S. announces new Mideast security envoy

By Sue Pleming and Adam Entous

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday named retired Marine Gen. James Jones as her special envoy for Middle East security, focusing on Palestinian and Israeli security issues.

"Building security in the Middle East is the surest path to making peace in the Middle East and General Jones is the best individual to lead our efforts in this essential endeavor," said Rice, with Jones at her side.

Jones, a general schooled in diplomacy who was NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe until 2006, takes on the job following the U.S.-hosted Middle East conference in Annapolis, Maryland, on Tuesday that revived Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Rice said Israelis must be confident that a Palestinian state would increase their security.

"He (Jones) will work with Israelis and Palestinians on the full range of issues and he will work to strengthen security for both sides," she said.

Jones, who has publicly critical of the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq war and its chaotic aftermath, said he was looking forward to his new post.

"It is critically important. It's great to see our country play such an important leadership role and I look forward to doing whatever I can to assist," Jones said of his new job.

Jones is expected to have a broader mandate than U.S. Gen. Keith Dayton, the U.S. security coordinator between the Israelis and the Palestinians.