WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) Nearly three years ago, U.S. President George W. Bush stood shoulder to shoulder with Israeli and Palestinian leaders and declared West Asia peace a ''matter of the highest priority'' for his administration.
Now, on the eve of talks with new Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the conflict has slid down the U.S. agenda as Bush confronts low approval ratings, an increasingly unpopular war in Iraq and an emerging nuclear challenge from Iran.
Olmert, on his first White House visit since his election in March, intends to offer Bush an overview of his sweeping plan for the occupied West Bank, including prospects for unilaterally imposing borders with the Palestinians, aides say.
Weakened at home and abroad, Bush is expected to reserve judgment at tomorrow's summit, mindful that Olmert's go-it-alone strategy is drawing Arab opposition and European concern.
The administration, struggling to prevent cracks in an international campaign to isolate the new Hamas-led Palestinian government, is in no hurry for another risky diplomatic venture.
''There are other pressing concerns'' on Washington's radar, one U.S. official said.
Despite that, Olmert hopes to start laying the groundwork for eventual endorsement by Washington, Israel's chief ally and biggest donor.
He is proposing in the absence of a Palestinian peace partner to remove dozens of remote settlements, bolster major enclaves Israel vows to keep forever and set a border by 2010 largely aligned with a West Bank barrier it is building.
Palestinians say this will deny them a viable state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which Israel vacated last year.
EMERGING FROM SHARON'S SHADOW In White House talks, Olmert will have to convince Bush his intention is not to close the door on an underlying assumption of U.S. Middle East policy, a negotiated two-state solution.
The former Jerusalem mayor is only just emerging from the shadow of his predecessor, Ariel Sharon. Israelis credit the now-comatose ex-general with turning Bush into the most staunchly pro-Israel president ever to occupy the White House.
But Olmert will now be dealing with a second-term president increasingly distracted from Middle East diplomacy as he struggles to stave off lame-duck status.
Bush's popularity has hit a low of around 30 per cent in recent weeks, raising worries among fellow Republicans that Democrats could win control of Congress in November elections.
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Now, on the eve of talks with new Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the conflict has slid down the U.S. agenda as Bush confronts low approval ratings, an increasingly unpopular war in Iraq and an emerging nuclear challenge from Iran.
Olmert, on his first White House visit since his election in March, intends to offer Bush an overview of his sweeping plan for the occupied West Bank, including prospects for unilaterally imposing borders with the Palestinians, aides say.
Weakened at home and abroad, Bush is expected to reserve judgment at tomorrow's summit, mindful that Olmert's go-it-alone strategy is drawing Arab opposition and European concern.
The administration, struggling to prevent cracks in an international campaign to isolate the new Hamas-led Palestinian government, is in no hurry for another risky diplomatic venture.
''There are other pressing concerns'' on Washington's radar, one U.S. official said.
Despite that, Olmert hopes to start laying the groundwork for eventual endorsement by Washington, Israel's chief ally and biggest donor.
He is proposing in the absence of a Palestinian peace partner to remove dozens of remote settlements, bolster major enclaves Israel vows to keep forever and set a border by 2010 largely aligned with a West Bank barrier it is building.
Palestinians say this will deny them a viable state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which Israel vacated last year.
EMERGING FROM SHARON'S SHADOW In White House talks, Olmert will have to convince Bush his intention is not to close the door on an underlying assumption of U.S. Middle East policy, a negotiated two-state solution.
The former Jerusalem mayor is only just emerging from the shadow of his predecessor, Ariel Sharon. Israelis credit the now-comatose ex-general with turning Bush into the most staunchly pro-Israel president ever to occupy the White House.
But Olmert will now be dealing with a second-term president increasingly distracted from Middle East diplomacy as he struggles to stave off lame-duck status.
Bush's popularity has hit a low of around 30 per cent in recent weeks, raising worries among fellow Republicans that Democrats could win control of Congress in November elections.
More Reuters DKS DB2144
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