President Bush and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah are meeting at the President's Texas ranch to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. 

With anti-Israeli sentiment growing in the Arab world, the Saudi crown prince is expected to ask President Bush to exert pressure on Israel to stop its offensive in the Palestinian territories. Arab leaders are also calling for the release of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from house arrest. 

The New York Times is reporting that Crown Prince Abdullah will tell President Bush that the strategic relationship between their two countries could be threatened if the president does not moderate his support for Israel. 

U.S. officials say Mr. Bush will repeat his call for Arab states to do more to stop Palestinian attacks. 

Earlier this year, the crown prince proposed a peace plan which would offer full recognition of Israel by Arab states in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal of all lands captured in the 1967 Mideast war. 

White House aides say the president hopes to also address the next phase of the war against terrorism and what to do about Iraq. 

The meeting comes at a tense time in the 70-year-old friendship between the United States and the oil-rich desert kingdom. Terrorist leader Osama bin Laden and 15 of the 19 September 11 hijackers were all born in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom's financial support for Islamic militants has also soured relations. 

A recent Saudi sponsorship of a telethon that raised more than $100 million in aid for the Palestinians is also likely to come up for discussion. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said he will ask where the proceeds went, saying there are some indications some of the money may be going to the Palestinian militant group Hamas. 

Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell and White House national security advisor Condoleezza Rice are also taking part in today's meetings. 

Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.

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