ME summit closer after Israeli nod to roadmap

The White House hailed Israel's qualified acceptance of the blueprint on Sunday as "an important step forward" and reports said a White House advance party had gone to Egypt and Jordan to prepare a possible summit.

"We look forward to working with all parties in the region to realize the vision of peace which the president laid out," White House spokesman Adam Levine said.

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State Department spokeswoman Tara Rigler said the Bush administration welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's acceptance of the road map.

"The president has affirmed his determination to move ahead and to make progress toward his June 24 vision using the road map as a practical guide," Rigler said. "We will continue to work closely with both sides throughout implementation of the roadmap."

In his White House speech on June 24, 2002, Bush expressed US commitment to creating an independent Palestinian state living in peace with Israel, and called for sweeping changes in the Palestinian leadership.

Bush said Friday that he would meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders if it will promote peace.

"If a meeting advances progress toward two states living side-by-side in peace, I will strongly consider such a meeting," Bush said.

Administration officials have told AFP that Bush may meet Sharon and new Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas after a summit from June 1-3 in France. Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt is considered the most likely venue.

Media reports said a US team left Washington for Egypt Sunday to prepare for a possible summit between Bush and the Israeli and Palestinian leaders. The White House refused to comment on the reports.

Meanwhile, most Israelis are in favour of the roadmap for peace approved Sunday by their government, but only a bare majority think it will lead to a lasting accord with the Palestinians, an opinion poll published Monday showed.

The poll by the Dahaf institute for the Yediot Aharonot said that of the 500-strong sample questioned, 56 percent were in favour of the international peace plan, compared with 34 percent against and 10 percent undecided.

Some 51 percent believed the roadmap would reach its goal of a lasting peace and a separate Palestinian state by 2005, against 43 percent in doubt.