Mahmoud Abbas (file photo)

President Bush is to host Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas October 20 at the White House.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement Friday that Mr. Bush looks forward to discussing Palestinian efforts to improve governance, revive the economy, institute security reform, and fight terror.

Mr. McClellan said the leaders will discuss a wide range of other bilateral and regional issues.

The United States is making public and diplomatic appeals to Israel and the Palestinians to end the violence that has sent regional tensions soaring only weeks after Israel's Gaza withdrawal.