Bush to visit Mideast to bolster peace bid

George W. Bush will make his first trip as US president to Israel and the West Bank next month to try to shore up fragile peace efforts despite doubts about chances of a deal before he leaves office in 13 months.

Bush will also make stops in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates on his January 8-16 trip to promote broader Arab-Israeli reconciliation after decades of conflict and enmity.

The announcement of his itinerary follows a US-hosted conference last month in Annapolis, Maryland, where Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pledged to try to forge a peace deal by the end of 2008.