In a letter to Mahmoud Abbas today, Dennis Hastert and Nancy Pelosi urged the Palestinian President to redouble his efforts to ensure Steve and Olaf’s safe return.
“While your efforts thus far to secure their release has been admirable, nearly two weeks have passed, and we are greatly concerned for their safety,” they write.

“These men selflessly sacrificed their well-being to bring news to the international community. The members of the fundamentalist group who kidnapped them have hijacked the values of democracy to advance an agenda of fear and hatred.” Drudge has the full letter (PDF).

Henry Hyde and Tom Lantos of the Committee on International Relations sent a similar letter today…