Bush, Olmert to meet Monday, review peace efforts

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush will meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday to review Middle East peace efforts that the U.S. leader had once hoped would produce an agreement before he left office.

Both leaders are leaving office in the next few months, Bush will leave the White House on January 20 and Olmert is Israel's caretaker prime minister pending an election in February.

"The president looks forward to discussing with the prime minister the strong bilateral relationship between the United States and Israel, our continuing, mutual efforts to bring peace to the Middle East, and a wide range of regional and international issues," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

(Reporting by Tabassum Zakaria; Editing by Sandra Maler)