Washington  - US President George W Bush will meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday to discuss the Middle East peace process, the White House said.

The two men will focus on negotiations with the Israelis as well as developing the Palestinian economy, viable institutions and security forces in the West Bank, spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

Perino has previously acknowledged that Bush's goal of achieving a settlement before he leaves office is no longer realistic. Bush relaunched the peace process during an international conference in Annapolis, Maryland, in November 2007.

The process, however, hit a major snag this summer when Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was indicted on corruption-related charges, putting the Israeli government in political limbo.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has been tapped to succeed Olmert as head of the Kadima party, but new elections were scheduled for February after she was unable to form a ruling coalition. Olmert will stay in the job until the elections.

The renewal of the peace process got off to a rocky start because of Hamas attacks from the Gaza Strip and subsequent Israeli airstrikes, and plans to proceed with building settlements.

Bush, who leaves office on January 20, met with Olmert in Washington in November. (dpa)