Bush gets room with a view for Mideast peace push

By Rebecca Harrison

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - When U.S. President George W. Bush gazes out of his sumptuous Jerusalem hotel room this week, the conflict that has confounded generations of politicians will be literally staring him in the face.

Bush's hotel suite -- which goes for $2,600 (1,300 pounds) a night before diplomatic discounts -- overlooks Jerusalem's fabled Old City and its holy sites, which are cherished by Jews, Christians and Muslims and cut to the heart of the Middle East conflict.

Looking beyond the ancient city walls, Bush will spot Israel's snaking West Bank barrier -- viewed by Palestinians as a land grab and a hated symbol of occupation and by Israel as a vital buffer against suicide bombers.

After shunning Middle East peacemaking for most of his tenure, Bush will make his first presidential visit to the Holy Land this week to try to shore up efforts for a deal on Palestinian statehood before he leaves the White House.

The view from his room testifies to the hurdles he faces. Sceptics say Bush's previous hands-off approach and the fact Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas both lack political clout won't help.

But Bush is the first U.S. president to visit Jerusalem since Bill Clinton a decade ago and the Jewish state is rolling out the red carpet for a man many see as the best friend Israel has ever had in the White House.

"This is a president who is very friendly and supportive of Israel, and Israel will certainly afford him the respect which he deserves during this visit," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said.

City officials have unfurled thousands of U.S. and Israeli flags along Jerusalem's main arteries and planes at the country's Ben Gurion airport will be grounded when Bush arrives.