Obama to speak on Middle East upheaval Thursday

In what the White House is billing as a "sweeping and comprehensive speech," President Obama will deliver an address on "his views on the upheaval" in the Middle East and North Africa next Thursday at the State Department. 

In addition to the so-called "Arab Spring," the president is  expected to discuss the stalled efforts toward peace between Israel and Palestine. Mr. Obama meets with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next week.

The announcement comes on the same day as word that George Mitchell, Mr. Obama's envoy in the Middle East, will resign.