From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

Iraq, Israel, and the change of power on Capitol Hill.

Hello again, I'm Arminolny, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues, Americans care about most.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmer arrived at the White House today at a moment when U.S. policies

in the Middle East may be changing. Democratic leaders want a phased withdrawal from Iraq.

There's pressure from several directions for talks with Syria and even Iran.

All this as the Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, are putting together a unity government.

On to the point, President Bush is embracing advisors who served his father. Will they push

diplomacy rather than confrontation? Is there any chance of a weakened American commitment to Israel?

On reporter's notebook later on, as the new Congress meets the old, what are the prospects on Capitol Hill?

First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio International Program Fund,

whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John D. and Catherine

T. MacArthur Foundation. Hello again. Mormon. I'm not only back with To the Point. As Democrats advocate

a phased withdrawal from Iraq, is it time for negotiations with Syria and Iran? As Prime Minister

Olmer to rise at the White House, is there any chance of a weakened U.S. commitment to Israel?

On reporter's notebook, old business for the lame duck Congress,

as Democratic leaders begin to clarify their alliances and objectives for the new Congress.

First, this news update on yesterday's Sunday talk shows,

leaders of the Senate's new Democratic majority,

called for redeployment of U.S. troops in Iraq within months.

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