Bush begins Middle East visit
George Bush visits the Middle East this week
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Wednesday, 14, May 2008 11:39
US president George Bush is in the Middle East today as he seeks to promote democracy in the region.
The controversial leader is set to address the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, and will meet with prime minister Ehud Olmert. He is due to meet with Palestinian leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh later on his visit.
According to White House officials US-initiated peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians have proved "sluggish" but some progress has been made.
"The president believes that these two governments, the Israelis and the Palestinians, have been doing a lot of good work behind the scenes, out of the glare of the spotlight and away from the microphones, which has helped them make some halting progress," spokesperson Dana Perrino said.
Mr Bush himself will call on the Palestinians to end the "60 years of struggling" since the founding of Israel in 1948.
"Now is the time for the development of a Palestinian state that has got defined borders, that doesn't look like Swiss cheese," he said in an interview with Egypt's Dream TV on Monday.
Speaking in the same interview on his legacy for the region, Mr Bush added: "I think history will say George Bush clearly saw the threats that keep the Middle East in turmoil, and was willing to do something about it.
"I think people will say he had a difficult set of circumstances to deal with and he dealt with them with a sense of idealism."