President George W. Bush heads for the Middle East today in a bid to boost Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts while trying to rally Arab opposition to Iran.
Mr Bush will make his first presidential visit to Israel and the West Bank in a bid to shore up fragile negotiations aimed at forging a peace treaty by the end of the year.
President George W Bush ahead of his trip to the Middle East
The chances of a deal before Mr Bush leaves office in January 2009 appear slim, however, and no breakthroughs are expected during three days of talks, which came after a conference he hosted in Annapolis, Maryland, last November.
Mr Bush hopes to enlist Arab support to help contain Iran, a goal underscored by a confrontation between American and Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend.
On the first leg of his trip, Mr Bush will nudge Israelis and Palestinians to move forward in talks already bogged down in recriminations since their leaders pledged at Annapolis, Maryland, to try to reach a two-state deal in 2008.
"I am optimistic about the prospects," Mr Bush said in his weekly radio address.
But doubts remain about the seriousness of his commitment, his ability to act as an even-handed broker and his chance of succeeding where so many of his predecessors have failed.
Also uncertain is whether Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have enough clout to close a deal.
Mr Bush will also make stops in Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt to press Arab allies to help rein in Iran.