Bush leaves Israel for Kuwait

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush headed to Kuwait on Friday after talks in Israel and the occupied West Bank aimed at spurring negotiations on an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.

Air Force One took off from Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion airport at the end of a three-day visit that also focused on Iran's nuclear program and Tehran's growing influence in the region.

Kuwait is the second leg of Bush's week-long trip, which will include visits to Arab allies in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

Bush said at the airport his visit had been very positive and that he was carrying "a message of optimism" about the possibilities of achieving an Israeli-Palestinian peace treaty.

Bush said during the trip he expected an agreement would be signed by the end of the year.

The president said he hoped to return to Israel for its 60th independence celebrations. Israel marks the anniversary according to the Hebrew lunar calendar and it falls this year on May 8.

(Writing by Jeffrey Heller, Editing by Alastair Macdonald)