While President Bush joins Israel's 60th anniversary celebrations, the Palestinian people mark al-Nakba, the "Catastrophe". "More than 700,000 Palestinians fled their homes or were expelled in 1948, during the war that followed Israel's declaration of independence." President Bush is on a Middle East tour, which is to include Saudi Arabia. The tour is intended to reinvigorate the Middle East peace process. Few commentators see any prospect for progress, although the U.S. President still claims a two-state solution is possible by the end of the year.
