Bush set for Mid-East peace push

Bush has decided to take a more hands-on role in the peace process

US President George W Bush will hold talks with the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers in Jordan next week, Jordan has confirmed.

The summit aimed at promoting the US-backed peace plan for the Middle East known as the roadmap will be hosted by Jordan's King Abdullah II, Information Minister Mohammed Adwan said.

Mr Bush will also attend a separate summit with a number of Arab leaders including Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Mr Adwan said.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas - also known as Abu Mazen - are expected to meet in Jerusalem later this week for talks ahead of the summit.

I think that the idea of keeping 3.5 million Palestinians under occupation is the worst thing for Israel, for the Palestinians and also for the Israeli economy

Ariel Sharon

The diplomatic moves come amid further violence in the West Bank.

A 16-year-old boy was shot dead by Israeli troops in Tulkarm on Tuesday, while in Jenin an Israeli soldier was shot during an army incursion.

The meeting between Mr Abbas and Mr Sharon this week will be the first high-level Israeli-Palestinian contact since the Israeli cabinet agreed on Sunday to back the roadmap.

Change of tone

It was announced after Mr Sharon gave his support to the new peace initiative and indicated a willingness to withdraw from the West Bank and Gaza.

Defending his decision to back the roadmap, Mr Sharon said keeping 3.5 million Palestinians under occupation was bad for both sides.

ROADMAP MAIN POINTS

Phase 1 (to May 2003): End to Palestinian violence; Palestinian political reform; Israeli withdrawal and freeze on settlement expansion; Palestinian elections

Phase 2: (June-Dec 2003) Creation of an independent Palestinian state; international conference and international monitoring of compliance with roadmap

Phase 3 (2004-2005): Second international conference; permanent status agreement and end of conflict; agreement on final borders, Jerusalem, refugees and settlements; Arab states to agree to peace deals with Israel

Roadmap full text

Can Mid-East roadmap work?

Mr Sharon's use of the term "occupation" appears to signal a personal change of heart and perhaps a shift of government policy, BBC Jerusalem correspondent Jeremy Cooke says.

There have been reports that the Israeli foreign ministry is also considering using the word "occupation" for the first time, when referring to the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In a speech to MPs from his right-wing Likud Party, Mr Sharon said they might not like the word, but what was happening was occupation.

A radio report said that Israel's international spokesmen and women had been forbidden to utter the word because it was thought to show Israel in a bad light.

Divided opinion

The talks between Abu Mazen and Mr Sharon will focus on how to begin to move the peace process forward on the ground and is certain to concentrate on issues of security, correspondents say.

Despite the renewed diplomatic efforts violence continues

It would be their second meeting since Abu Mazen took office on 30 April.

The Israelis say there can be no progress until attacks against Israelis have come to a complete stop.

Mr Sharon's careful language over the past 24 hours has given some encouragement to the Palestinians, our correspondent says.

But the prime minister has faced fierce criticism from within his own Likud Party - with 11 ministers and deputies making blistering attacks on the roadmap, Israeli army radio reported.

Some of Mr Sharon's critics say that his new willingness to compromise is merely a political manoeuvre as he does not expect it to be put to the test.