AP
President Bush

 President Bush says he has no illusions about the difficulty of finding a just settlement in the Middle East that leads to two states living side by side in peace and security. However, he also says Arab governments, the Palestinian people and their leaders must recognize that suicide bombings are endangering the possibility of an independent Palestinian state.

 President Bush says he recognizes Israel's right to defend itself against terror, but adds that he has asked the Israelis to halt incursions into Palestinian areas to promote a foundation for peace.

 The president made the remarks from his Texas ranch during a weekly radio address. He is meeting at the ranch with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. He says he and Prime Minister Blair will spend much of their time discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The two leaders also are expected to focus on efforts to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein as part of an expanded war on terrorism.

 Meanwhile, President Bush is sending U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to the Middle East, Sunday. Secretary Powell is expected to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Bush administration officials say the secretary has no current plans to meet with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, but has not ruled out that possibility.
 
 

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters. 

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