Both candidates called on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to restrain the violence rocking Israel as they stepped gingerly around a volatile foreign policy issue in a nationally televised debate.
Gore also called on Syria to "release three Israeli soldiers that have been captured" by Hamas militia forces during more than 10 days of violence.
In the opening moments of their 90-minute debate, the two presidential hopefuls both pledged strong support for Israel, and sparred over the Clinton administration's handling of Iraqi Leader Saddam Hussein over the past eight years.
The rivals, locked in a tight, back-and-forth race for the White House, met on a stage at Wake Chapel on the campus of Wake Forest University, the second of three presidential debates over a two-week period. Their running mates, Republican Dick Cheney and Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman, met last week for their only debate of the campaign.
George W. Bush denounced the use of U.S. troops to engage in what he calls "nation-building" projects. Gore said that can be a legitimate part of a military mission as it was after World War II.
Gore said he wants his first civil rights law to ban racial profiling. Bush said racial profiling is wrong, but he believes in local control, and wants to avoid federalizing police departments.
Where gay rights are concerned, Bush says he believes in equal rights but not special rights. And he opposes gay marriage. Al Gore does, too, but believes some kind of civic union should be examined. He says that's the position of both vice-presidential candidates.
On gun control, Al Gore has said states should require photo I.D.'s for the purchase of new handguns. George W. Bush opposes that. He says gun control begins with enforcement of current laws. He does support instant background checks at gun shows.
(Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
