Abbas visit is symbol of new hope

By Jonathan Beale
BBC state department correspondent

Mahmoud Abbas gets an historic welcome in Washington

This will be the first time that this United States president has rolled out the red carpet for a Palestinian leader.

George W Bush did not even consider entertaining Yasser Arafat at the White House.

The Bush administration saw him as the main hindrance to a lasting peace in the Middle East.

Even after his death the Bush administration denounced Mr Arafat as a corrupt politician who failed to crack down on terrorism and push forward genuine democratic reform.

In stark contrast Mahmoud Abbas' election as Palestinian president has helped spread the US gospel of democratising the Arab world.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says: "There is no doubt that this is a different Palestinian leadership than we've had in the past. He is a committed person".

Hamas concerns

But though there is plenty of praise from Washington for Mahmoud Abbas' commitment to spreading democracy and tackling terrorism, there is still concern that his words have so far not been matched by deeds.

Condoleezza Rice has been repeating US demands that the Palestinians "dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism and the terrorist organisations".

Condoleezza Rice has praised Mr Abbas

The US is worried about the growing strength of Hamas.

Some analysts believe that a Palestinian Authority tainted by corruption is one reason for that.

The priority as far as Washington is concerned is not the planned elections for a Palestinian parliament (now probably delayed), but restraint on the part of the Palestinians as Israel prepares to disengage from Gaza.

Mahmoud Abbas is hoping that Washington digs deep into its pockets. He needs millions of US dollars to rebuild Gaza.

President Bush has already earmarked $350m (£190m) in aid.

US suspicion

But Congress has prevented most of that money from going directly to the Palestinian Authority.

Instead it wants funds to be given to aid agencies and NGOs.

Congressmen like Eliot Engel - a Democrat from New York - still consider the PA to be corrupt.

He likens handing funds to the Authority to "pouring money down a sewer".

He wants proof that Mr Abbas has put his house in order.

Mr Abbas desperately needs funds to rebuild Gaza

President Bush is still likely to promise some direct funding to the Palestinian Authority - but nowhere near the sums that the Palestinians would like.

Mr Abbas also would like to see the US getting tougher on Israel over continued activity in settlements on the West Bank.

President Bush may well use this opportunity to reaffirm his opposition to the activity.

But it is hard to see what the US will do other than voicing concern.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has been in Washington this week too.

He was on his own charm offensive trying to win round the large US Jewish community to his plans to disengage from Gaza.

Though he has plenty of support here, he was also met by protesters and hecklers who believe he is caving in to violence.

Washington still needs to keep Israel on side.

Backing for state

This visit may end up being as much about symbolism as concrete results.

It gives President Bush another opportunity to reaffirm his commitment to the creation of a separate Palestinian state, living side by side in peace with Israel.

He has said that a new Palestinian state must have contiguous territory - in other words it must not be a state of scattered territories.

That in itself is an important step forward for the Palestinians.

But it is the image of this US president standing side by side with a Palestinian president in the White House that will endure longer than any words.

In Mahmoud Abbas President Bush sees his best chance of creating a lasting peace in the Middle East - and he wants to show that he is willing to help him.