President Bush announced today that the militant group Hezbollah, which the State Department views as a terrorist organization, may have a role to play in the future of an independent Lebanon if they stop all terrorist activities.

Bush told reporters about Hezbollah at a press conference shortly after meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II in the Oval Office today.

'We view Hezbollah as a terrorist organization,' Bush said. 'I would hope that Hezbollah would prove that they're not, by laying down arms and not threatening peace.'

Hezbollah receives support and funding from both Syria and Iran and recently organized a pro-Syrian rally in Damascus last week.

In addition to backing the continued Syrian occupation of Lebanon, Hezbollah has stated it would do all it could to disrupt the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

President Bush argued that peace was important to the region. 'It's very important that this peace process go forward, for the sake of the Palestinians, for the sake of the Israelis and for the sake of all the people in the region,' Bush remarked.

King Abdullah also believed peace between Israel and the Palestinians was possible now that Mahmoud Abbas was president of the Palestinian Authority. 'I truly believe that, in this man, Prime Minister Sharon has a partner for peace,' he said, 'and I'm very optimistic that, between the two leaders, that the process will go forward and will go forward positively.'