The visits by U.S.officials have been preceded by clashes over the last few weeks between Israeli police and Palestinians, as well as deepening divisions among Palestinian factions.

VOA: standard.2009.10.30

Large scale cyber assaults against Chechnya and Georgia preceded Russia's military actions there.

VOA: standard.2009.08.11

Mitchell's scheduled visit to Damascus was preceded by two trips there since March by Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman and White House National Security Council Middle East expert Daniel Shapiro.

VOA: standard.2009.06.09