Laura and George W. Bush
Photo: AFP
Laura Bush coming to Israel
American first lady set to embark on a Mid-East tour in about two weeks; official announcement expected next week
WASHINGTON - American First Lady Laura Bush is planning to visit Israel and other Middle-Eastern countries in the framework of a tour aimed at, among other things, advancing the regional peace process.
The six-day tour is expected to begin on May 19, newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth has learned.
At the trip’s outset, Bush is slated to deliver a speech in an economic conference in Amman, Jordan, and later continue for short visits to Egypt and Israel.
The first lady plans to focus her attention on the advancement of women’s rights in the Middle East, but will also devote her attention to advancing Israeli-Palestinian negotiations in accordance with the U.S.-brokered road map.
Laura more popular than George
An official announcement regarding the visit is expected next week. Two months ago, Bush visited Afghanistan, but for security reasons word of the visit was kept secret until the last minute.
Notably, Laura Bush has become increasingly active in political affairs since her husband, President George W. Bush, was reelected. In her speeches, she has extensively addressed the war in Iraq, in a bid to boost the president’s standing in the eyes of the American public.
In recent weeks, President Bush’s approval rating dropped to 45 percent, while his wife continued to boast an impressive 70 percent approval rating.
