[cnn-photo-caption image= "http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/images/01/11/art.olmert.abbas2.ap.jpg" caption=" Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert & Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas."]
![http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/images/01/11/art.olmert.abbas2.ap.jpg"](http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/images/01/11/art.olmert.abbas2.ap.jpg"){kind=link}
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
President Bush is predicting a Middle East peace deal by the end of this year.
The president has been in the region this week, meeting with both Palestinians and Israelis. He's calling for an end to what he says is Israel's "occupation" of Palestinian lands that began in 1967. Mr. Bush says the deal must establish Palestine as a homeland for the Palestinian people. However, he's also asking Palestinians to confront terrorists, and urging Arab states to "reach out to Israel."
The president took that message to Kuwait today, where the administration said not to expect a "blinding flash" of Arab cooperation for the restarted peace talks. Yet they insist the process is moving forward.
Critics suggest that Mr. Bush's trip is more talk than action. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas still hasn't been able to stop militants in Gaza from firing rockets into Israel. And, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is reluctant to confront Jewish settlers. Both sides agreed to getting these things done before starting peace talks... but they haven't happened yet.
Meanwhile, President Bush says he will return to Israel again in May.
Here’s my question to you: President Bush predicts a Middle East peace agreement by the end of the year. Will it happen?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Joe writes:
Peace in the Middle East is not within George Bush's grasp. It has eluded far more capable American and world leaders for almost sixty years.
Karen writes:
Bush, yet again, is off in la-la land! He will make sure there is no peace in the Mideast as evidenced by his ongoing saber rattling with Iran. How can he expect ancient enemies to resolve their issues while he discusses war with their neighbor? This man has no business traveling abroad...it's embarrassing.
Brian from Delray Beach, Florida writes:
Of course it will happen. The real question is: will it work and last? The last few decades of U.S.-brokered deals would point to no. We can’t fix it and we shouldn’t even be trying. Israel doesn’t meddle with our border disputes with Mexico... let’s show them the same respect.
Jay writes:
President Bush is a classic narcissistic personality disorder. He believes that anything that he wishes to happen will in fact happen. He thinks that anything he wants to do is legal and doable. The tragedy is that some very evil people have let him and helped him. He really needs an intervention... like an impeachment, to stop him.
R. writes:
Finally Bush is doing something right! Hopefully he is sincere about it.
John writes:
The president also predicted the war would only cost $60 billion and that we would be greeted as liberators. I'm not sure the Middle East can take many more of his predictions and meddling.