SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt - President Bush arrived in the Middle East today, stopping in Egypt ahead of a trip to Jordan for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. In his first personal foray into Middle East peace talks, President Bush pledged Monday to "put in as much time as necessary" to achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians and help them live side by side. Bush, on the eve of two days of talks with leaders in the region, said he knew it would not be an easy task to end years of hostility in the region. But he told reporters, "I think we'll make some progress. I know we're making progress." After staying aloof from the Middle East for 18 months as violence between the two sides escalated, Bush became the first president specifically to endorse a Palestinian state. But he said it could come only with a more democratic Palestinian system and without Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, the longtime symbol of the Palestinian movement. Bush cut short his attendance at an economic summit of world leaders in Evian, France, on Monday to come to this Egyptian resort town. He planned to press Arab leaders to do more to show open support for new Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas, U.S. officials said. On Wednesday, Bush planned to participate in a three-way summit in Aqaba, Jordan, with Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Bush was seeking commitments from Middle East leaders on how to carry out a U.S.-backed peace plan that would lead to creation of a Palestinian state by 2005. He said steps forward would only come if "people assume their responsibilities." Speaking from Rome, Secretary of State Colin Powell said U.S. officials working on the text of final statements planned for after the Aqaba meetings were "encouraged by what they have been able to achieve so far." "We expect that positive statements will be forthcoming," Powell said. "But you know, statement writing always goes down to the last minute as people try to present one position or another." Recent statements by Sharon acknowledging that Israeli forces' "occupation" of Palestinian territories showed that "whichever interpretation you put on that ... it's a situation that is unsustainable over time," Powell said. Asked if the United States would apply sanctions for countries that fail to comply, a senior administration official said, "The United States is going to be in a position to assess where progress is being made and where it isn't. And to assess where the roadblocks to progress are and where they are not." Abbas said the Palestinian leadership "is committed to implementing its part of the road map and calls on Israel to do the same." His comments, reported by the official Jordanian news agency, Petra, came during talks Monday in Jordan with King Abdullah II. Bush also will underscore to Sharon at their meeting Wednesday that Israel has responsibilities to make the peace process work. "My expectations on the Middle East are to call all the respective parties to their responsibilities to achieve peace," Bush said. "My country and I will put in as much time as necessary to achieve the vision of two states, living side by side in peace." Bush spoke at a meeting with French president Jacques Chirac at an economic summit here. Chirac said France, Russia and Europe backed Bush's efforts "without reservations." Upon arrival in Sharm el-Sheik Monday, Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher said: "We strongly support the peace process, we strongly support the road map, we strongly support all efforts by the international community. This is an attempt to reverse the cycle of violence." Palestinian envoy Nabil Shaath said he expected the United States not to yield to objections Israel has raised to the so called "road map" and for the peace plan to be adopted as is in Aqaba. Ahead of the meetings, Israel eased some travel restrictions and Palestinians predicted a cease-fire soon. Sharon told his Cabinet on Sunday he would likely make a declaration committing Israel to dismantling the settlements in Palestinian-controlled areas that have been set up in violation of Israeli law, according to an official who was present. Stopping new settlement construction is a key element of the peace plan. However, Sharon adviser Zalman Shoval said Monday that Israel did not consider all the outposts illegal and would only dismantle ones not deemed necessary for Israeli security. On the Palestinian side, Abbas' government continued to work toward a declaration of a cease-fire on attacks against Israelis by militant groups like Hamas. While Israel demands a crackdown, including arrest of Hamas militants, Abbas prefers to negotiate a truce. Israel officials also want the statement from the Palestinians to include recognition of Israel's right to exist "as a Jewish state." But those close to the process suggested Monday that such wording might be difficult to achieve at this time. It is a major item of contention. Israeli officials contend such language would make it harder for Palestinians to press for a "right of return" for refugees of the 1948 war that led to the establishment of Israel. The Israeli-Palestinian problem came close to settlement in 2000, after years of personal involvement by former President Clinton. Arafat rejected a land-swap offer by then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Hand-in-hand, President Hosni Mubarak welcomes U.S. President George W. Bush as he arrives at the Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt international airport on Monday, June 2, 2003. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)