Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who called on Arab leaders to boycott anyone who visits Israel for its 60th anniversary celebrations, will meet next week with American President George W. Bush in Egypt, according to White House National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley.
Hadley detailed next week's Middle East itinerary of President Bush, who will arrive in Israel next Wednesday. He then will travel to Jerusalem, where he will meet separately with President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The following day, he and his wife Laura will travel to Masada and then return to Jerusalem, where he will address the Knesset. Bush won't be leading any trilateral meetings with Olmert and Abbas, however. "This did not seem the time for a big, high-level, three-way event," said Stephen Hadley, Bush's national security adviser told reporters Wednesday. "It just doesn't feel right as the best way to advance the negotiation."
President Bush will participate in a roundtable discussion with Israeli youth on Friday and then travel to Saudi Arabia, where the subject of the price oil is high on the agenda. The President also will meet Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas in Sharm el-Sheikh the following day, when he will meet separately with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. On Sunday he will travel to Jordan and hold separate meetings with King Abdullah, PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and Iraqi officials.