US President George W. Bush launched a drive this evening to create a Palestinian state, with Israelis and Palestinians nearing agreement on a pledge to address the toughest issues of their decades-old conflict.
His legacy dominated by war in Iraq - and 14 months before leaving office - Mr Bush began three intense days of Middle East diplomacy in separate Oval Office meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
No one predicted a breakthrough in a conflict that has outlived many a US president and Middle Eastern leader.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, putting her credibility on the line, assembled representatives from more than 40 countries, many driven by a desire to prevent Iran from becoming a dominant - and nuclear - Middle East power.
Middle East oil power Saudi Arabia, a US ally, and Syria, a frontline state formally at war with Israel, were among those countries. Their participation was welcomed by all three main participants as boosting the chances for success.
The diplomats were to converge tomorrow in Annapolis at the US Naval Academy, a largely symbolic gathering that will launch formal negotiations between Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas, both of whom are politically weakened at home.
Mr Bush told Mr Olmert he looked forward to a serious dialogue with the two leaders "to see whether or not peace is possible." Mr Bush thanked Mr Abbas for "working hard to implement a vision for a Palestinian state."
"The United States cannot impose our vision but we can help facilitate," Mr Bush told Mr Abbas.
Speaking later to reporters, Mr Olmert said he expected negotiations on Palestinian statehood to begin soon after the Annapolis conference but gave no specific dates. He cautioned there were significant hurdles ahead.