After leaving Israel Friday, U.S. President George W. Bush met Saturday with Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas – and promised him that there would be an Arab state in areas controlled the PA by the end of 2008, if he had anything to say about it. "It breaks my heart to see the vast potential of the Palestinian people, really, wasted," Bush said. Such a state “would be an opportunity to end the suffering that takes place in the Palestinian territories," he told Abbas.

Abbas was effusive in his praise of Bush. "We know very well that you personally, as well as your administration, are committed to reach peace before the end of 2008," Abbas said. "We are working very seriously and very aggressively with the hope that we will be able to achieve this objective."