Bush To Visit Middle East Next Month

An Unconfirmed Stop In Israel Would Be President's First Visit There Since He Took Office

(CBS/AP)  President Bush will visit the Middle East in early January as he presses the Israelis and Palestinians to restart moribund peace talks, the White House said Tuesday.

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe would not release details of Bush's itinerary, but an Israeli television station said the president would visit Israel.

Other Israeli media outlets reported Mr. Bush's visit would take place Jan. 9. Israeli government officials refused to comment.

Officials at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv refused to confirm or deny the report. This would be Mr. Bush's first visit to Israel since he took office.

A Western official familiar with the organization of the trip told CBS News, nothing will be "officially confirmed until the White House confirms." He would say that his understanding was that such a visit would make sense within the President's current travel plans, and that it would likely include both Israeli and Palestinian meetings.

"If they do one side, they should do the other," the source said. "The trip is earlier than expected, but fits in with Bush's long-planned trip to the Gulf early next year," he adds.

Aaron Miller, a scholar with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, told CBS News, "I assumed that he would go sometime next year. January would seem a bit early. Their calculation has to find a balance between demonstrating presidential engagement and not wasting it. They would want to give the Israelis and Palestinians some time to organize themselves post-Annapolis, but as you know with most White House matters, it's scheduling."

Last week, Bush hosted a high-profile Middle East conference in Annapolis, Maryland, where Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told international backers and skeptical Arab neighbors that they were ready to resume bargaining toward achieving an independent Palestinian homeland.

Bush has held Mideast peacemaking at arms' length for most of his nearly seven years in office, but he argues that conditions in Israel and the Palestinian territories now are right for a more energetic role. He said Israeli and Palestinian leaders are ready to make peace, there is a wider and unifying fight against extremism fed by the Palestinian conflict, and the world understands the urgency of acting now.

Fundamental differences have led to the collapse of previous peace efforts: the borders of a Palestinian state, the status of disputed Jerusalem and the rights of Palestinian refugees and their descendants.

Israel said Tuesday it is seeking bids to build more than 300 new homes in a disputed east Jerusalem neighborhood, drawing Palestinian condemnations that the move is undermining the newly revived peace talks. Eastern Jerusalem is considered the Arab sector, and the Arabs want that part of Jerusalem in any agreement to divide the city.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat sent an urgent message to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, asking her to block the project from moving forward. "This is undermining Annapolis," he said.

Negotiating teams were to hold their first session in the region in just two weeks, on Dec. 12, and Olmert and Abbas plan to continue the one-on-one discussions they began earlier this year. Many of the same nations and organizations attending the meeting in Annapolis were scheduled to gather on Dec. 17 in Paris to raise money for the cash-strapped Palestinians.

[sgtrds]

Someone change the locks while he''s gone so he can''t get back in. In fact send him to Iraq. If he thinks it''s been such a great success then let''s make him King George there. That way he can pis*s on their laws instead of ours.

[watcher269-2009]

I hear the Saudi''s are going to play Pin the Tail on the Bush.

[brianbwb-2009]

Give him the useless "interceptor" armor that is being forced on the US soldiers due to sweetheart corruption.

Even then, let''s hope he is only wounded, I want to see him on trial for war crimes and treason.

[kissamaarse]

Two lines work:

"No, don''t let him!"

"Why would he?

[cdfoxtrot]

Another photo op for the moron-in-chief. No-one believes this clown is serious about trying to bring about a settlement (no pun intended) between the Israelis and Palestinians. And the Israelis are busy undermining the process already with their illegal expansion in East Jerusalem. The smartest thing the Palestinians could do would be to abandon the idea of a separate state and go for one-man, one-vote within a greater Israel. Olmert himself outlined this last week as a possibility -- one he doesn''t want, of course. Will we have a nuclear armed Islamic State of Israel in 20 years?

[nirak2-2009]

I heard there is a big carpet sale taking place just outside out of Baghdad.

[hungry1968]

Since the surge is such a success, maybe he''ll go for a stroll through a Baghdad market with no armor, security, or military escorts.

Yeah right - the biggest coward to ever hold office. "AWOL George" wouldn''t go to the bathroom without SS escort.

[nirak2-2009]

I think Bush should make a little sidetrip to Baghdad and give a speech to the Iraqi people at the townsquare without security.
Thats only fair since it''s suppose to be so peaceful in Baghdad, don''t you think?

[noaanhc]

Mr Bush,take Chaney with and don''t return for we here have had enough of you 2 morons.

[nirak2-2009]

cutie2008
Not funny at all, but smart

[nirak2-2009]

oops matvei
Sorry

[nirak2-2009]

matwei
Wishful thinking?

[nirak2-2009]

Bush has to talk to Olmert and come up with a different reason to attack Iran.

[ontheleft]

I hope he doesn''t run into a suicide bomber over there. Got my fingers crossed REAL tight.

[steeepe]

I sure hope he stays there!

[rowdytexan2]

He''s going over there to find a home, cuz he''s gonna need it. Bet he stops over in Saudi Arabia for a little kissie face with the Saudi king.

[starleo146]

Seeing Israel bombed Syria and took out the nuclear site and no one wants to talk about anything Bush will probably go to Israel to get them to do more dirty work to provoke a war. I will tell you these two will not give up their aims for us, Congress,or the world . I hope it is his downfall once and for all. We better durn well look at these candidates and pick the most qualified to handle foreign policy Now I am looking at Biden 35 years foreign committee. No one is looking at him but he is the most qualified in foreign policy and that is where we are hurting

[jntlw-2009]

Please let him stay in Israel for the remainder of his term. Don''t come back, we don''t want you !

[tylenol6]

Guess he is going to visit his partner in crime.

[j-whitman]

When Bush is gone, put the terrorist on the No-Fly List