Bush heads to Middle East to push his peace vision

In his first personal foray into Middle East peace talks, President George Bush pledged today to “put as much time as necessary” into achieving peace between Israelis and Palestinians to help them live side by side.

Bush, on the eve of two days of talks with leaders in the region, said he knew it would not be an easy task to end years of hostility in the region. But he said: ”I think we’ll make some progress. I know we’re making progress.”

After staying aloof from the Middle East for 18 months as violence between the two sides escalated, Bush became the first president specifically to endorse a Palestinian state but said it could come only with a more democratic Palestinian system and without Yasser Arafat.

His comments came during a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac during the G-8 economic summit in Evian.

Bush was cutting short his attendance at the French summit to head for the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik today. There he planned to press Arab leaders to do more to show open support for new Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Bush hopes to win additional backing for a peace plan that would lead to creation of a Palestinian state by 2005.

“My expectations on the Middle East are to call all the responsible parties to their responsibilities to achieve peace,” he said. “My country and I will put as much time as necessary to achieve the vision of two states living side by side in peace.”

Officials cautioned beforehand that concessions from both the Arab world and Israel were needed to advance the so-called “road map” to peace, and that the process still had a long way to go.

Bush plans to participate in a three-way summit in Aqaba, Jordan, with Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Wednesday.

A senior administration official said Bush would use his meetings to seek commitments from Middle East leaders on how to carry out the peace plan.

Ahead of the meetings, Israel eased some travel restrictions and Palestinians predicted a ceasefire soon.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told his Cabinet he would probably make a declaration committing Israel to dismantling the settlements in Palestinian-controlled areas that have been set up in violation of Israeli law. Stopping new settlement construction is a key element of the peace plan.

On the Palestinian side, Abbas’ government continued to work toward a declaration of a cease-fire on attacks against Israelis by militant groups like Hamas. While Israel demands a crackdown, including arrest of Hamas militants, Abbas prefers to negotiate a truce.