Bush meets Sharon
US President Bush will meet Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to discuss ways to press ahead with the rollout of the “road map” for peace in the Middle East.
George Bush is widely perceived as pivotal for securing long term stability in the Mideast region.
He sees himself herding “cattle” towards peaceful coexistence and the establishment of a Palestinian state in 2005.
Four days ago he bid farewell to Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. Mr Abbas was warmly welcomed in Washington.
There, Mr Abbas called on Mr Bush to pressure Israel to curb Jewish settlement outposts on the West Bank and end the construction of the security fence.
He also asked for the release of Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestinian Authority, who is under house arrest.
But Mr Bush sees Mr Arafat, who is still regarded by the pro-Israeli camp as a terrorist, as a destabilising influence on negotiations.
During his three-day visit, the Israeli leader is expected announce the release of hundreds more Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli has already said it would release 540 prisoners within a week, 210 of which would be from the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Palestinian politicians insist 3,000 of the 7,700 prisoners held by Israelis could be released without any threat to security.
But Israel is unlikely to release those Hamas and Islamic Jihad prisoners with “blood on their hands.”
Israeli, for its part, wants an unequivocal sign that Palestinians are cracking down on militancy.
Mr Sharon met with national security chief Condoleezza Rice on Monday afternoon and with pro-Israel lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, last night.
He is also expected to hold talks with Vice President Dick Cheney.
