By Matt Spetalnick and Tabassum Zakaria
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (Reuters) - U.S. President George W.Bush said on Saturday he remained confident a deal onPalestinian statehood could be achieved before he leavesoffice, as he sought to ease Arab doubts about his commitmentto even-handed peacemaking.
In the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh for the final stopof his Middle East tour, Bush faces growing scepticism over hischances of securing an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before heleaves office in January.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, in a private meeting withBush, sought reassurances that the U.S. president was firmlycommitted to the peace process and would work hard toward thegoal of a Palestinian state.
"In my speech tomorrow I'll make it clear that I believethat we can get a state defined by the end of my presidency,and we'll work hard to achieve that objective," said Bush, whois due to address the World Economic Forum on Sunday.
Standing next to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, with theirbacks to the Red Sea, Bush sought to ease Arab concerns thatPalestinians were slighted during his three-day visit toJerusalem where he lavished praise on Israel.
Bush said he had spoken with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert andother Israeli officials in Jerusalem about his Middle Eastpeace goals, and will hold discussions with PalestinianPresident Mahmoud Abbas later on Saturday.
"Every one of these meetings helps advance the process,"Bush said.
"Every one of these meetings helps us inch toward the goalof getting a state defined with borders and the refugee issue,as well as security concerns defined by the end of mypresidency," he said. "And I believe we can do that, and I knowit's going to be important for the peace in the Middle East."
On the way from the airport, Bush's motorcade passed a"peacemakers" mural on the side of the road, a reminder of pastefforts on Middle East diplomacy by his predecessors.
PALESTINIAN TALKS
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.
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.
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.
Olmert is also on the ropes, facing a corruption scandalthat could force his resignation and possibly derail the peaceprocess altogether.
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 can be reached as hetries to carve out a foreign policy legacy beyond the unpopularwar in Iraq.
Israelis gave Bush a hero's welcome, many seeing him as thebest friend the Jewish state has ever 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."
(Editing by Matthew Tostevin)
