Truce, reforms top Abbas' US mission agenda

While his enigmatic predecessor Yasser Arafat, accused of dabbling in "terror", was blacklisted by Washington, Abbas will be received on Thursday by US President George W. Bush, who has repeatedly praised him for his determination to end the violence.

The Palestinian leadership is concerned, however, that the recent eruption of violence in the Gaza Strip, which has shaken an informal truce in place since late January, may put Abbas in an embarrassing position with the US administration.

"Abu Mazen (Abbas) will lay out everything achieved by the Palestinians, notably the truce, the security and judicial reforms and the consolidation of democracy through the elections," Palestinian national security adviser Jibril Rajub told AFP.

"He will also inform President Bush about the Israeli violations which are undermining the efforts at reinforcing the calm and restarting negotiations," he added.

Rajub said Abbas would also bring up the "assurances" Bush gave to Israel last year, in which he said it would be unrealistic to envision a complete Israeli pullback to the 1967 border or a return of the Palestinian refugees to their land.

Bush had taken a positive position toward the Palestinians, Rajub said, pointing to the US leader's support for the creation of an independent Palestinian state, his opposition to Israeli settlement activity and his frank defence of Abbas.

"Abu Mazen (Abbas) will explain to President Bush that an independent Palestinian state is the best guarantee of stability in the region and an essential part of the fight against terrorism, which is fuelled by the Israeli occupation," he added.