Bush talks Mideast peace with advisers
White House weighing Sharon's talk of withdrawal
From Dana Bash
CNN Washington Bureau
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Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced plans to evacuate most Jewish settlements in Gaza.
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush met at the White House on Saturday with advisers who've just returned from the Middle East, as the administration deliberates how to get a peace plan back on track.
National Security Council Spokesman Sean McCormack declined to say what was discussed or whether anything was decided at Saturday's White House meeting.
Those attending included Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Assistant Secretary of State William Burns and other U.S. officials who met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to talk about whether his stated intentions to withdraw from Palestinian territories would influence the U.S.-backed "road map" for peace.
U.S. officials have been trying to ascertain whether Sharon's talk of unilateral withdrawal means the road map is still viable.
The United States has voiced concern that a unilateral Israeli withdrawal, coupled with a barrier it is building to separate Israel from the West Bank, would prematurely set the borders of a future Palestinian state, a matter the United States insists should be negotiated.
But Israel has told the administration that its plans would not be a substitute for a final agreement, and that Israel remains committed to President Bush's vision of a two-state solution, as spelled out in the road map. (Full story)
White House spokesman Scott McClellan discussed the advisers' trip Friday.
"Prime Minister Sharon has discussed some ideas publicly, which we have said could help reduce friction between Israelis and Palestinians," he said. "The team that went over there was there to listen to some of the ideas from the prime minister.
"There is an ongoing dialogue with the parties to get everybody focused on moving forward on the road map."
Little more than six months ago, Bush was in the Mideast with Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minster Mahmoud Abbas, applauding a new beginning for the peace process.
But just a few months later, Abbas was ousted after a power play with Yasser Arafat, with whom the U.S. refuses to negotiate.
