SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt—U.S. President George W. Bush sought to reassure sceptical Arabs on Sunday he is committed to securing a deal on Palestinian statehood before he leaves office, despite his outspoken support for Israel.
Wrapping up his Middle East tour in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Bush was looking to ease Palestinian dismay over his visit to Israel, where he lavished the Jewish state with praise, hailing it as a "homeland for the chosen people."
Bush planned to use a speech to Arab leaders at an economic forum in Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday to insist that he "firmly believes" a Middle East peace agreement can be reached this year — a deadline widely viewed as unrealistic.
Highly unpopular in the Muslim world because of the Iraq war, Bush will also raise with Arab allies everything from oil and economics to political reform and the role of women, and will urge them to isolate to U.S. foes Syria and Iran for "supporting terrorism."
"We must stand with the Palestinian people, who have suffered for decades and earned the right to a homeland of their own," Bush will say, according to prepared remarks for Sunday's speech.
Adjusting his approach from the one taken during his visit to Israel last week to celebrate its 60th anniversary, Bush will challenge the Palestinians to "fight terror" and call on Israel to make "tough sacrifices for peace and ease restrictions on Palestinians."
Bush was alluding to the hardship that Palestinians face from Israeli roadblocks and barriers in the occupied West Bank, measures they call collective punishment but which Israel says are to defend it against militant attacks.
Bush's more sympathetic words to the Palestinians, appeared aimed at countering Arab doubts, reinforced by his Israel visit, about his ability to act as an even-handed peace broker.
Despite little sign of any significant advances toward peace on Bush's second trip to the region this year, his national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, insisted Israeli and Palestinian negotiators had been making "tangible progress", and he left the door open to a third presidential visit.
"The president will come back here when there is work for him to do to advance the process," Hadley told reporters.
Focus on Iran, Hezbollah
Bush will also urge Arab leaders to stand by Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora against Hezbollah and to shun Iran over its nuclear programme.
"Every peaceful nation in the region has an interest in opposing Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions," Bush will say. Iran says it wants nuclear technology only for peaceful purposes.
Saying the Middle East needs to work harder to promote democracy, he will call on Arab governments to free all "prisoners of conscience" and expand rights for women.
Reflecting U.S. public concerns about record oil prices during a presidential election year, Bush will warn Arab oil producers their supplies are limited and they must diversify their economies. His comments follow a visit to Saudi Arabia where he won a modest increase in oil output.
Bush, who met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Sharm el-Sheikh on Saturday, is also seeking broader regional support for the faltering Middle East peace process.
He stoked anger among Palestinians and their Arab supporters in a speech to Israel's parliament on Thursday in which he pledged unflinching support for the Jewish state but made only one reference to Palestinians' statehood dreams.
Bush s trip follows a U.S.-hosted conference in Annapolis, Maryland, in November. Since then, talks have bogged down over Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and violence in and around the Gaza Strip, where Hamas cross-border rocket fire has triggered a tough Israeli military response.
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