US President George W Bush has fueled speculation he may convene his first Middle East summit next month by saying he would meet with Israeli and the Palestinian leaders if it would promote peace.
Administration officials said Mr Bush may arrange a meeting with prime ministers Ariel Sharon and Mahmud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority after the G8 summit in France which runs from June 1st - 3rd. Egypt is the most likely venue fora meeting, sources say.
"If a meeting advances progress toward two states living side-by-side in peace, I will strongly consider such a meeting," Mr Bush said as he met at his ranch with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
He also hailed Mr Sharon's embrace of the "road-map" to ending violence, which calls for the creation by 2005 of a Palestinian state living at peace with Israel. The Israeli cabinet may vote on the blueprint on Sunday.
"That's progress ... I understand it's going to be difficult to achieve peace, but I believe it can happen."
Mr Bush tied the Israeli premiere's move to a formal new US pledge to be mindful of its key Middle East ally's security concerns, laid out earlier in a statement by Secretary of State Colin Powell and national security adviser Mr Condoleezza Rice.
"And since we're committed to Israel's security, as we move forward, we will address any concerns that might arise regarding Israel's security," Mr Bush said.
"The United States government received a response from the government of Israel, explaining its significant concerns about the roadmap," Mr Powell and Ms Rice said in the statement released in Texas.
"The United States shares the view of the government of Israel that these are real concerns, and will address them fully and seriously in the implementation of the roadmap," they said.
Senior administration officials said that Israel's concerns would be addressed within the context of implementing the roadmap, not by changing the internationally drawn blueprint itself.
"With respect to the roadmap, we are not planning on making any changes," Mr Powell said during a press conference in Paris.
AFP