President Bush plans to meet in Jordan Wednesday with the Palestinian and Israeli prime ministers. It will be their first three-way summit and the biggest indication to date of the president's deepening involvement in the peace process.
President Bush says he wants to talk about the steps that must be taken in order for the peace process to succeed. "And if all sides fulfill their obligations, we can make steady progress on the road toward Palestinian statehood, a secure Israel, and a just and comprehensive peace," he says.
Mr. Bush spoke after talks in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh with the leaders of Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas also took part in the meeting, which was considered a prelude to the summit in Jordan.
The moderate Arab leaders told Mr. Bush in Egypt that they welcome the new U.S. backed peace plan known as "the road map." The "road map" envisions a Palestinian state living side-by-side with Israel by the end of 2005.