Turning point for the Middle East?

By Rob Watson BBC Washington correspondent

British Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit to the White House comes at what looks like one of those defining moments in diplomacy.

Number 10 hopes Bush will give a "signal of intent" over the Mid-East

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has just died and the man who refused to deal with him, President George W Bush, has just been elected to a second term at the White House.

So could this be a turning point in the decades long conflict in the Middle East?

British officials say the prime minister certainly sees this as a new era for peace in the Middle East and a moment for the West to show that it is serious about resolving the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

Much has been made in the press and among the punditocracy of how Mr Blair is under pressure to show some reward for his loyalty to the US over Iraq and that the reward he's seeking is greater US involvement in the search for Middle East peace.

But Mr Blair may not have to do much persuading.

There are signs the Bush administration also sees Mr Arafat's death as at least a possible diplomatic opening.

Caution

In a statement released by the White House, President Bush described Mr Arafat's death as a significant moment in Palestinian history.

Mr Bush expressed hope that "the future will bring peace and the fulfilment of their aspirations for an independent, democratic Palestine that is at peace with its neighbours".

Secretary of State Colin Powell went even further, saying: "We will do all we can to support and help the Palestinian people move forward toward peace during this period of transition."

But, publicly at least, the Bush administration is likely to proceed with caution until it becomes clear who the new Palestinian leaders will be.

President Bush kept his distance from Middle East peacemaking in his first term because he shared the view of the Israelis that there were was no Palestinian partner to make peace with.

Mr Arafat may have departed the scene, but the Bush administration will still need to be convinced there are Palestinians willing to live in peace with Israel.

So expect both Mr Blair and Mr Bush to express their hopes for peace, but don't expect, at this stage at least, too much in the way of detail.