George W. Bush will make his first trip as US president to Israel and the West Bank next month to try to shore up fragile peace efforts despite doubts about chances of a deal before he leaves office in 13 months.
Bush will also make stops in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates on his January 8-16 trip to promote broader Arab-Israeli reconciliation after decades of conflict and enmity.
The announcement of his itinerary follows a US-hosted conference last month in Annapolis, Maryland, where Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pledged to try to forge a peace deal by the end of 2008.
Bush's first presidential visit to Israel and the West Bank comes as his room for maneuver is limited by the unpopular Iraq war.
His hands-off approach to Middle East peacemaking during almost seven years in office has raised doubts about his newfound commitment. His planned trip to the region appears intended to allay such concerns.
"This visit will follow up on the progress made at Annapolis in helping Israelis and Palestinians to advance their efforts toward peace and achievement of the president's vision of two democratic states living side by side in peace and security," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.
But she played down the prospect that Bush, scheduled to meet separately with Olmert and Abbas and not to hold a three-way meeting, would engage in detailed negotiations between the two sides on possible concessions. She insisted instead that Bush could "help facilitate those discussions".
All three leaders - Bush, Abbas and Olmert - are politically weak at home, and lingering mistrust between Israel and the Palestinians is making any progress difficult.
The first round of talks since Annapolis opened in discord last week after Palestinians demanded a halt to Israeli plans to build new homes at a settlement near Jerusalem known to Israelis as Har Homa and to Palestinians as Abu Ghneim.
Abbas' negotiating position is hurt by the fact he effectively rules only in the West Bank while Hamas Islamists control Gaza.
For his part, Olmert's popularity has sunk since the 2006 Lebanon war and his governing coalition is shaky.
After the 44-nation gathering in Annapolis, Bush assured the two leaders the US would actively engage in peacemaking.
Source: China Daily/Agencies
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