National security adviser Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday a key part of Bush's message would be that each participant should do their part -- whether reforming security services or freezing settlements -- without constantly checking whether others are doing the same.
But in a region where distrust and hostility are the norm, that could be a tall order.
"The president on June 24th (last year) laid out a vision that really did finally challenge everybody on the fundamentals of the Middle East peace: not to worry about whether the guy next to you is doing what he ought to be doing, but worrying about whether you're doing what you ought to be doing," Rice said.
"That's the core of the president's message when he goes, that it's fine for the Palestinians to talk about what Israel ought to do, and Israel to talk about what the Palestinians ought to do, but it's best if everybody takes on their responsibilities for peace and pursues them aggressively."
On May 1, the Bush administration unveiled the so-called "road map" for Middle East peace, a blueprint of phased, confidence-building steps and reforms by Palestinians and Israelis that would lead to the creation of an independent Palestinian state by 2005.
The plan was drawn up by the so-called Quartet, composed of the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations.
Among its most-sensitive provisions is the call for the Palestinian Authority to clamp down on Islamist militants to end months of anti-Israeli terrorism, and for Israel to dismantle at least some Jewish settlements in the Palestinians territories.
Seen as vital on the Palestinian side is for new Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, to reform the Palestinian Authority's several security services into one to facilitate accountability and control, thus helping to assuage Israel's demand for secure borders.
Abbas gave a positive nod to the plan, but Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon later presented Bush with 14 objections to the "road map." Sharon endorsed the plan in principle after the president said Israel's points would be considered.
Earlier Wednesday deputy White House spokesman Scott McClellan reiterated Sharon's concerns would be addressed, but added: "The text of the 'road map' will not change."
Bush travels to the Middle East Monday, leaving the French summit of the Group of Eight industrialized countries early to meet with Arab leaders in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, on Tuesday
Attending the meeting will be key regional leaders in the peace process -- President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah of Jordan, King Hamad of Bahrain and the new Palestinian prime minister.
The Arab leaders have played an important role in moving the process forward by pressing Palestinian leader and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat to relinquish day-to-day control of the Palestinian government and open the door to reform following Bush's insistence Arafat was tied to terror and thus was a tainted entity he could not work with.
"I think the president believes that the reason that this is the time to go is that the Arab leaders with whom he will meet are all telling him that this is a historic opportunity for peace," Rice said in a pre-trip briefing to reporters. "And that historic opportunity for peace is only going to be delivered if there is on the part of all parties a desire to take up their responsibilities."
Rice said that means the Palestinians needed to reform their security services and actively combat terrorism, and that Israel "will have to welcome and support and try and help to bring into being a Palestinian state that is viable and capable of existing side by side."
"And that's what the president is going to do," she added.
During his talks with the leaders Bush also intends to discuss his recent proposal of a free-trade agreement with the region, a move he sees as opening the door to regional prosperity and thus more democratic conditions.
"The president really believes that this is one of the keys to a peaceful Middle East," Rice said. "It's not that trade makes peace, but it is that prosperity and trade give people hope."
Secretary of State Colin Powell and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Zoellick will travel later to the region to discuss proposed trade arrangements, Rice said.
On Wednesday, Bush is to hold separate and joint talks in Aqaba, Jordan, with Sharon and Abu Mazen.
Arafat would not be involved, the White House has said.
"The president's views on Yasser Arafat are well known and clear. I don't see any need to reiterate them," spokesman Ari Fleischer said.
Abbas became the Palestinians' first-ever prime minister May 1 following his approval by the Palestinian Legislature. Arafat made the appointment amid increasing international pressure to step back and open the door to reform of the Palestinian Authority.
Following the talks in Aqaba, Bush is scheduled flying to Qatar to meet with U.S. troops who are based there and who were involved in operations to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's regime.
"I want to be very clear: this is going to be a long process, and it is going to have ups and downs, as it has always had," Rice said Wednesday. "But on this entire Middle East portion (of the president's trip), what the president will do is to talk to the assembled leaders about their responsibilities and about our responsibilities to try and push forward the peace," she said.
"The president just believes that this is a good time to sit down, face to face, eye to eye, with the leaders who have responsibility for trying to bring about that peace."
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