White House says no change in Middle East policy

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Amid growing calls for the United States to launch a new approach in the Middle East, the Bush administration said Wednesday it still believes a political solution is "very hard to achieve" until a cease-fire takes hold.

"It's just logical, so long as there is violence, it's very hard for both parties to engage in meaningful political talks," said White House press secretary Ari Fleischer.

Still, Fleischer said the United States is "committed to progress" on both a cease-fire and a political solution, a message which seemed designed to appease Palestinians who have accused Washington of a pro-Israel bias.

Many Middle East observers believe the only way Palestinians might agree to a cease-fire is if there is a discussion of political issues. Some have suggested a new policy linking cease-fire talks with discussions of political issues such as borders and the creation of a Palestinian state.

"I think it goes without saying that it's going to be easier to make progress on the political front if the violence is reduced," Fleischer said. "And so it makes sense that both are important, but the focus has got to be, in the president's opinion, on reducing the violence, to make the political talks more fruitful. But there should be no question, the United States is committed to progress on both."

A senior administration official told CNN that Bush never said a cease-fire was a prerequisite for a political solution and never said a political settlement could not be achieved without a complete end to the violence.

"He's never said it's impossible," the official said. "He said it's harder. It's common sense."

Beyond calls for a new initiative linking cease-fire talks with political discussions, there is more and more pressure on the president to do something to bring an end to Israeli incursions in West Bank towns.

Arab-American leaders met with Secretary of State Colin Powell Wednesday afternoon and called the U.S. response to the Israeli military raids "achingly inadequate."

Also Wednesday, Egypt announced it was suspending most government contacts with Israel.

Fleischer tried to dismiss any notion Egypt's move signaled a crisis, saying Egypt remains committed to the peace treaty it signed with Israel in 1979.

"I can reiterate that we anticipate commitment to the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty, which remains in effect, will endure and that's important," the Bush spokesman said.

Asked whether the administration was feeling the heat to get more involved and make a new diplomatic overture, a senior administration official said the president is confident there will come a point when the parties will have "exhausted themselves" and the "time will be right" for a return to the peace table.

"You reach a point where Israel will have taken the steps it needs to take to protect itself," the senior aide said. "The parties will recognize the fruitlessness of further military action, the violence is brought down and an opening develops for a peace card to be played."

"It's a matter of timing," the senior aide added.

The official also sought to put to rest criticism from Capitol Hill, Arab allies and former Clinton administration officials that the United States needs to be more engaged, saying a recent broadcast network's poll showed that 59 percent approve of the way Bush is handling the situation.

"I think the American people support what the president is doing in terms of the level of engagement, the level of involvement and the message that the president is providing," Fleischer said.