By Matt Spetalnick
RIYADH (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush flew toEgypt on Saturday for talks with Palestinian leaders who willbe looking for signs they will not be neglected after helavished praise on Israel during a visit to the Jewish state.
Heading for the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh for thefinal stop of his Middle East tour, Bush faces growingscepticism over his chances of securing an Israeli-Palestinianpeace deal before he leaves office in January.
Bush's visit to Israel to celebrate its 60th anniversaryraised fresh doubts in the Arab world over his ability to actas an even-handed broker between Israel and the Palestinians.
He hailed Israel as a "homeland for the chosen people" andpledged that Israelis could forever count on American supportagainst enemies like Hamas and Iran.
Palestinians were dismayed that Bush, in his speech toIsrael's parliament on Thursday, made only one reference totheir aspirations for a state of their own and did not use theoccasion to press Israelis to make compromises.
The White House denied Bush was ignoring the plight of thePalestinians, insisting he would address their concerns in hismeeting on Saturday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
"What he will make clear is that the Palestinian peopledeserve a state," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
Bush's trip to Egypt followed a one-day visit to Riyadh,where he met King Abdullah to appeal for help in easing recordoil prices. Saudi Arabia announced that a modest increase inoil output was made last week but said any more supply wouldnot ease prices at the pump for Americans.
Bush meets Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and AfghanPresident Hamid Karzai as well as Abbas on Saturday and willsee Jordan's King Abdullah, Pakistani Prime Minister YousafRaza Gilani and Iraqi officials on Sunday at an internationaleconomic forum.
PEACE PROCESS STALLED
Bush's Middle East tour, his second this year, follows aU.S.-hosted conference in Annapolis, Maryland, in Novemberwhere Israeli and Palestinian leaders pledged to try to reach apeace agreement by the end of Bush's term.
Since then, talks have bogged down over Israeli settlementexpansion in the occupied West Bank and violence in and aroundthe Gaza Strip, where Hamas cross-border rocket fire hastriggered a tough Israeli military response.
Bush has voiced optimism that a deal still can be reachedas he tries to carve out a foreign policy legacy beyond theunpopular war in Iraq. People on both sides of the conflict areincreasingly sceptical.
Despite that, Israelis gave Bush a hero's welcome thisweek, many seeing him as the best friend the Jewish state hasever had in the White House.
Critics said Bush showed insensitivity by heaping praise onIsrael on the day Palestinians annually mark what they call the"Nakba", or catastrophe, when some 700,000 Arabs fled or wereforced from their homes during the war over Israel's creation.
"He should have told the Israelis no one can be free at theexpense of others," Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said."He missed this opportunity and we are disappointed."
As Bush visited Riyadh on Friday, Saudi Foreign MinisterPrince Saud al-Faisal told reporters: "What is required isequality in dealings ... and not selectiveness in dealings."
Abbas will make his case for Bush to put more pressure onIsrael. But he has little leverage and is weak at home,governing only in the West Bank while Hamas controls Gaza.
Israeli Prime Ehud Olmert is also on the ropes, facing acorruption scandal that could force his resignation andpossibly derail the peace process altogether.
(Editing by Myra MacDonald)