The Bush administration, working in concert with Saudi Arabia, is accelerating its efforts for a settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. With Mideast leaders headed to the White House - or on the telephone with Secretary of State Colin Powell on Wednesday - the State Department spokesman promised, "We will do what's necessary to help facilitate that process." Using the breakthrough on freeing Yasser Arafat from Israeli confinement as an example, spokesman Richard Boucher said the administration was ready to present suggestions or even solutions to promote a peace accord. (Read photo caption).

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel was due to see President Bush at the White House next week. Also on tap is King Abdullah II of Jordan, with a demand that Israel give up the West Bank and Gaza, as well as part of Jerusalem for a Palestinian capital.

Powell, meanwhile, was on the telephone with Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres of Israel.

On Thursday, U.S. diplomacy is likely to get an endorsement from U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and leaders of the European Union, who will assemble in Washington.

PHOTO CAPTION

American and British diplomatic vehicles, right, approach Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, as a Israeli army jeep, left, stands on the road, Wednesday evening, May 1, 2002. A total of fifteen vehicles arrived at nightfall at Arafat's headquarters under escort by army jeeps to transport six Palestinian prisoners from Ramallah to the West Bank town of Jericho, where they were to be guarded by U.S. and British wardens under terms of an American-brokered deal.(AP Photo/Enric Marti)