President Bush will travel to Israel and the Middle East in part to participate in Israel’s Independence Day celebrations.

The U.S. leader will visit the region May 13 to 18.

Bush also will travel to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, where he will attend a summit with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. It is not clear yet whether Israel will be represented.

The Palestinian Authority has threatened to boycott President Bush. — jta