CIA man's visit will still go ahead

President George Bush is "disgusted" by the terror bombing of an Israeli billiard hall but is still intent on sending CIA director George Tenet to the region to help create a Palestinian security force to fight terrorism.

News of the bombing interrupted a meeting between Mr Bush and Ariel Sharon in the Oval Office. Mr Sharon cancelled a meeting with leaders of Congress and flew back to Israel.

The two leaders could not agree on whether the outcome of talks in the region should result in a Palestinian state, which Washington believes is essential.

Mr Sharon argued that it was "premature" to discuss the matter until Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat puts his government in order.

The US has refused to put on the agenda at a planned summer conference on peace in the Middle East anything more adventurous than discussion of ideas already in circulation.

Critics say Mr Bush is being too optimistic and too vague. He expects Israel, the Palestinian Authority and moderate Arab leaders to take part in efforts to stop terror attacks in Israel while opening negotiations toward a Palestinian state.

He said Arab leaders seem to be facing up to a responsibility to coerce Mr Arafat to reform his regime, making it more democratic and less corrupt. "The world is rallying toward these reforms," he said.

But there is no evidence that the Oval Office talks had dissolved the serious differences between the two leaders. Sharon steadfastly refuses to deal with Arafat. There was no meeting of minds on the subject of Saudi Arabia.

Mr Bush regards the Saudis as important partners in the search for peace. Mr Sharon has produced voluminous evidence that the Saudis are supporting terrorism.

Speaking of the trip by Mr Tenet, President Bush said: "I think it is very important that there be a unified security force, but we need to work for other institutions, a constitution, for example, development of a state that can help bring security and hope to the Palestinians and the Israelis."