Bush set for rare Mideast visit

Jan. 7 - After shunning Middle East peacemaking for most of his tenure, President Bush will make his first presidential visit to Israel and the West Bank this week.

Bush is trying to try to shore up efforts for a deal on Palestinian statehood before he leaves the White House. 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 the US leader's quest for a Middle East peace deal.

Helen Long reports.