GAZA, January 9, 2008 (WAFA) - Leadership of Fatah movement in Gaza Wednesday called on visiting U.S. President George W. Bush to help stop Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and lift siege on the Gaza Strip.

"We demand President Bush to announce his clear and neutral stances towards the Israeli acts against the Palestinian people," said Zakareia al-Agha, a member of Fatah's central committee, at a news conference in Gaza.

Bush arrived in Israel on Wednesday noon, starting an eight-day visit to the region. He is scheduled to meet President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday in the West Bank city of Ramallah in efforts to push the stalled peace process forward.

"The success of Bush's visit is subject to the neutrality, forcing Israel to stop all forms of settlement activities, lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip and opening the crossings before the Palestinians," al-Agha added.

He also warned the Palestinian negotiators not to make concessions during Bush's visit.