DATE=3/26/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH MIDEAST (S)

NUMBER=2-288001

BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

///// ED'S: UPDATED SHORT AND LONG CR LIKELY AFTER 12:30PM WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING. /////

INTRO: The White House says it is waiting for word from Israel on whether Yasser Arafat will be allowed to travel to the Arab League Summit in Beirut. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports the two-day meeting opens Wednesday in the Lebanese capital.

TEXT: White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer says Israel is aware of America's thoughts, and the Arab League is aware that President Bush has high hopes for the Beirut summit.

Mr. Fleischer says the president wants the summit to focus on peace, most notably the long-term proposal put forward by Saudi Arabia. The White House spokesman acknowledges there are differences among Arab leaders on the wording of the Saudi initiative.

But he says the ideas suggested by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah are constructive because at their core is a reference to Israel's right to exist.

The White House spokesman told reporters there would be a time when more precise meaning is applied to the Saudi plan. But for now, he said, President Bush believes it is a way for the Arab world to step forward and help lead the way to peace.

He said the troubled region has seen so much violence and so little hope that when Saudi Arabia puts out ideas that focus on peace, those ideas should be welcomed. (SIGNED)

NEB/PW/RAE