British Prime Minister Tony Blair sought consensus with U.S. President Bush on Thursday to make peace in the Middle East an urgent priority, exploring whether the death of Yasser Arafat offers new avenues for restarting Israeli-Palestinian talks. The two leaders met last night over dinner at the White House in an informal start of two days of talks about the pending elections in Iraq, Iran's nuclear ambitions, trans-Atlantic relations and Mideast peace. Bush greeted Blair on the South Lawn with a hearty handshake and patted the smiling British leader on the back before ushering him inside. Blair has publicly declared that he is seeking a renewed U.S. commitment to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The death of Palestinian leader Arafat on Thursday has created what many see as an opportunity for fresh efforts. Briefing reporters during the flight to Washington, Blair's spokesman said the prime minister is expected to call on Bush to help shore up the Palestinian Authority. Palestinians need international help to improve security, bolster their economy and strengthen civil and political structures, he said.
