WASHINGTON, May 10: President George W. Bush has invited Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to visit him in Washington on May 20, the White House announced on Saturday.

“The United States and Israel have a firm friendship, and the two leaders will discuss efforts to move ahead towards a peace settlement between Israelis and Palestinians,” the announcement said.

They will also discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues.

“President Bush very much looks forward to the prime minister’s visit,” the White House said.

The invitation to the Israeli premier comes amid renewed US efforts for arranging a new agreement between Israelis and Palestinians along the lines of the “road map to peace”.

The “road map”, developed by the Middle East Quarter, envisages the establishment of an independent Palestinian state by 2005. The quarter includes the United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia.

On Friday evening, President Bush also announced his plan to set up a free-trade area in the Middle East and to push for economic, social and political changes in the Arab world.