Bush Makes Drive for Palestinian State
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President George W. Bush meets Palestinian and Israeli leaders on Monday in a drive for Palestinian statehood before he leaves office in 14 months.
Expectations are low for three days of meetings in Washington and nearby Annapolis, Maryland, because Bush, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas all face political challenges at home.
Syria and Saudi Arabia promised to attend the Annapolis talks on Tuesday, although Damascus will send a deputy minister rather than the foreign minister hoped for by U.S. organizers.

