US:Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert arrived in Washington yesterday as the Bush administration prepared to lift its political and economic embargo on the Palestinian Authority.
President George Bush yesterday offered his backing to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas for the steps he has taken since Hamas gained control of Gaza last week.
During a 15-minute phone conversation, Mr Abbas urged Mr Bush to attempt to revive political negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
The White House said Mr Bush would discuss the possibility of new peace talks when he meets Mr Olmert today.
"What's important is, you have to have a partner who is committed to peace, and we believe that President Abbas is. And therefore we are committed to working with this new emergency government," said White House spokesman Tony Snow.
The US hopes that lifting its embargo on the Palestinian Authority will strengthen Mr Abbas and his allies in Fatah at the expense of Hamas, which Washington has refused to negotiate with until it renounces the use of force and recognises Israel.
Five years ago, Mr Bush became the first US president to call publicly for a separate, independent Palestine alongside Israel, but his administration has faced criticism for failing to take a more active role in the peace process.
Secretary of state Condoleezza Rice signalled in January that Washington is prepared to engage more strenuously in seeking a political resolution to the conflict and she has visited the region four times since then.
President Bush is due to make a major speech this month on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and some in the administration - believed to include Dr Rice - want him to outline a blueprint for its resolution.
Hardliners hope that, instead of describing the shape of a future deal on Jerusalem, borders and refugees, the president will focus on the internal divisions within the Palestinian people.