Bush's Middle East peace bid seen floundering

U.S. President George W. Bush plans to host a conference on Palestinian statehood later this year, but few in the Middle East are predicting an Arab-Israeli breakthrough that would help him transcend his troubles in Iraq.

"The (Bush) administration is not prepared for a successful meeting. There are no indications that this conference will be successful," former Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Maher told Reuters. "The bases on which it will be held are unclear."

Egypt, a longtime U.S. ally and one of only two Arab states to make peace with Israel, played a facilitating role in past Israeli-Palestinian talks which failed to end the conflict. More...