Bush gets room with a view for Mideast peace push

Some 10,500 police -- more than a third of Israel's total police force -- have been drafted in to secure the streets of Jerusalem, including snipers and bomb-sniffing dogs.

During the 3-day visit, Bush's entourage will take over Jerusalem's King David hotel, made famous when Jewish militants opposed to British rule in Palestine blew it up in 1946.

"It's safe to say the hotel and the surrounding area will be like Fort Knox," said Director of Delegations Sheldon Ritz, adding security officials had already spent weeks securing the area and had even sent robots to check the sewers.

An American al Qaeda militant urged Islamist militants to welcome Bush with bombs but Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said there had been no specific security warning in connection with the visit.

Bush first visited Israel in 1998 as governor of Texas, when he flew over the country in a helicopter with hawkish former prime minister Ariel Sharon -- then foreign minister -- in a ride many believed cemented the bond between them.

This time, Bush is expected to meet Olmert and Abbas, although his plans are under wraps.

Not everyone has welcomed Bush's visit.

Right-wing activists are planning protests against ceding occupied West Bank land they believe God gave to the Jews, while Islamist group Hamas, which opposes U.S. policy and any peace deal with Israel, dismissed the visit as a "photo opportunity" for a has-been president.

(Editing by Samia Nakhoul)