By Matt Spetalnick
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (Reuters) - U.S. President George W.Bush will try on Sunday to convince a sceptical Arab world thathis outspoken support for Israel does not mean he is blind tothe Palestinians' aspirations for statehood.
Wrapping up his Middle East tour in the Egyptian resort ofSharm el-Sheikh, Bush is looking to ease Palestinian dismayover his visit to Israel, where he lavished the Jewish statewith praise, hailing it as a "homeland for the chosen people."
Bush assured Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas onSaturday he remained "absolutely committed" to getting a peacedeal, including agreement on Palestinian statehood, before heleaves office in January -- a deadline widely viewed asunrealistic.
Bush insisted that a state "would be an opportunity to endthe suffering that takes place in the Palestinian territories."
Though he did not directly criticize Israel, he seemed tobe alluding to the hardship that Palestinians face from Israeliroadblocks and barriers in the occupied West Bank, measuresthey call collective punishment but which Israel says are todefend it against militant attacks.
"It breaks my heart to see the vast potential of thePalestinian people really wasted," Bush told reporters withAbbas at his side.
Bush's more sympathetic language on the Palestinians'plight appeared aimed at countering Arab doubts, reinforced byhis visit last week for Israel's 60th anniversary celebration,about his ability to act as an even-handed peace broker.
WARMUP FOR SPEECH
Bush's comments were a warm-up for a speech he will deliveron Sunday at the World Economic Forum in Sharm el-Sheikh. "I'llmake it clear that I believe we can get a state defined by theend of my presidency," he said.
Bush said in his weekly radio address he would also use thespeech to urge Arab leaders to reject U.S. foes Iran and Syria,calling them "spoilers" who impede progress in the region.
For his part, Abbas did not mention Bush's speech toIsrael's parliament on Thursday in which the U.S. leaderpledged unflinching support for the Jewish state but made onlyone reference to Palestinians' dreams of a state of their own.
But other Palestinian officials and Arab leaders andcommentators have responded with stinging criticism.
"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."
Bush's Middle East tour, his second this year, follows aU.S.-hosted conference in Annapolis, Maryland, in November.
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 hopes to forge a foreign policy legacy beyond theunpopular war in Iraq. Critics say his effort is too little,too late and still lacks the full weight of U.S. diplomacy.
Peace moves have also been hindered by the weakness of itsmain players. Abbas governs only in the West Bank while Hamascontrols Gaza. Israeli Prime Ehud Olmert faces a corruptionscandal that could force his resignation and may derail thepeace process altogether.
(Additional reporting by Tabassum Zakaria in Sharmel-Sheikh and Wafa Amr in Ramallah)
(Editing by Tim Pearce)
