Washington: President Bush, trying to nurture fragile peace talks between Israeli and Palestinians, will make his first trip to Israel and the West Bank next month as part of a nine-day swing through the Middle East.
Bush also will make stops in Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. He will leave Washington on January 8 and return on January 16.
Egypt is the only country on the itinerary that Bush has visited before.
While Mideast peacemaking has been on the back burner during most of his presidency, Bush last month hosted a high-stakes conference in Annapolis, Marlyland, to encourage talks between Israel and the Palestinians on an independent Palestinian homeland.
Asked whether Bush will engage in detailed negotiating, White House press secretary Dana Perino said: "I do not anticipate - although we can let you know as we get closer - whether there will be detailed discussions about concessions."
She said Bush wants the leaders to keep their eye on finding a way to achieve a long-term, sustainable peace.
The White House said the trip also will be an opportunity to reaffirm the United States' commitment to the security of allies in the Middle East, especially the Gulf nations, and work with them to combat terrorism and extremism.
Perino said she did not think a stop in Iraq will be added, although the White House does not announce such trips in advance anyway for security reasons.
In Jerusalem, Bush will meet with President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and in the West Bank he will meet with President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
The president will then travel to Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
