Analysts: U.S. President Bush's Middle East Visit Not Expected To Achieve Much

Cairo, Egypt (AHN) - United States President George W. Bush is not expected to achieve much in his five-day Middle East visit that begins on Tuesday, analysts told AHN Media Corporation. Bush comes to the region in the midst of political and violent turmoil highlighted by the sectarian clashes that have shown its ugly face in Lebanon.

The American president is expected to celebrate the 60-year anniversary of the Israeli state, but will also make stops in Egypt and Saudi Arabia - two of the United States key allies.

Even Washington does not feel this is the right time for a highly publicized visit.

"This did not seem the time for a big, high-level, three-way event," Stephen Hadley, Bush's national security adviser, told reporters. "It just doesn't feel right as the best way to advance the negotiation."

Analysts here in Cairo hope that at the minimum, Bush can help push forward a stalled ceasefire agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that his government would not agree to any ceasefire without the release of soldier Gilad Shalit who was kidnapped nearly two years ago by militants.

"Shalit is an integral element of the situation," Olmert's spokesman Mark Regev said. "Hamas cannot expect Israel to sit by idly when they are holding a young serviceman hostage now for almost two years."