Military

17 July 2003

Bush Plans to Meet Israeli and Palestinian Leaders in Washington

Abbas visits July 25, Sharon July 29

Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon are scheduled to visit separately with President Bush in Washington in late July.

According to statements issued by the White House press secretary July 17, Abbas will visit Washington July 25 and Sharon will visit July 29. Both leaders are scheduled to have meetings and working lunches with Bush to discuss efforts to advance peace between Palestinians and Israelis.

Following are White House statements announcing the two visits:

(begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

July 17, 2003

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

Visit by Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas

President Bush will welcome Palestinian Prime Minister Abbas to Washington for a meeting and working lunch on July 25. This will be the President's first meeting with the Prime Minister in Washington. The President is committed to his vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security; and he looks forward to discussing with Prime Minister Abbas the path forward toward realization of this vision.

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(begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

July 17, 2003

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

Visit by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel

President Bush will welcome Prime Minister Sharon of Israel to Washington for a meeting and working lunch on July 29, 2003. The two leaders will discuss efforts to advance peace between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as a range of bilateral and regional issues.

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)