Region | Palestinian Territories

Region readies for Bush's arrival

Bush begins a landmark Middle East trip on Wednesday, visiting Palestinian and Israeli territories for the first time as a US leader.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 08:37 January 6, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • US President George W. Bush is to visit the region from January 8-16 in a tour that will also take him to Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
  • Image Credit: Gulf News Archive

Occupied Jerusalem: Palestinian and Saudi leaders held talks as Occupied Jerusalem spruced up itself ahead of the arrival of US President George W. Bush in the region.

Bush begins a landmark Middle East trip on Wednesday, visiting Palestinian and Israeli territories for the first time as a US leader.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz held talks on the Middle East peace process, which would be the main focus of Bush's visit.

The Saudi king and Abbas also discussed international efforts aimed at securing peace "that would ensure the Palestinian people the right to an independent state with Occupied Jerusalem as its capital", Saudi state news agency SPA reported.

In Gaza, Palestinian militant group Hamas dismissed Bush's vist as a "photo opportunity" and said he was not welcome int the region.

Meanwhile, Occupied Jerusalem is spending nearly $400,000 for Bush's visit, said Jacob Avishar, the city official in charge of coordinating preparations.

During the visit, the Old City's five-century-old ramparts will be illuminated with floodlights until 2am instead of midnight for Bush to enjoy, Avishar said.

More than 10,500 police and security personnel will be deployed to protect Bush and keep order during the visit.

"There will be so much security nobody will be able to get anywhere near the president," said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.

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