A White House official has indicated that the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, may be offered a formal role in efforts to restart the Middle East peace process.
Mr Blair steps down as prime minister next week after ten years in office.
The official said Mr Blair had discussed the possibility with the US President George W Bush and the Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, is also understood to have been consulted, and to be supportive.
Reports say the role envisaged for him would be to assist the Palestinians in building up the civil and security institutions necessary to form a viable state.
