United States President George W. Bush arrived in Israel Wednesday for his second visit in four months. This time, the American leader is in the country to mark Israel's 60th anniversary and take part in the Presidential Conference organized by Shimon Peres .
First on his itinerary were meetings with Peres and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ,who greeted he and first lady Laura Bush at Ben-Gurion International Airport. Bush reached in to give a hug to Olmert, who is the target of a corruption investigation .
The entire Israeli cabinet, religious leaders and other dignitaries also greeted Bush. They lined up and he shook their hands one by one.
"Good to be back," Bush told a member of the welcoming delegation, referring to his visit to Israel in January. "Thanks for coming out to say hello," he said to another.
On the red carpet (Photo: Yaron Brener)
In comments at the airport, both Peres and Olmert warmly praised Bush for strengthening the long-standing ties with the US, Israel's closest ally.
"Your decision to celebrate this historic milestone with us is an extraordinary gesture of friendship and it's further evidence of your unending commitment to the security and well-being of our country," Olmert said.
"Welcome to the new Israel, three thousand years old and going on sixty," Peres said, citing biblical roots and praising Bush for standing "by our side in sunny mornings and stormy weather".
"We are proud to reaffirm the friendship of our peoples," Bush said at the red-carpet ceremony. "Our two nations both faced great challenges when they were founded. And our two nations have both relied on the same principles to help us succeed. We built strong democracies to protect the freedoms given to us by an almighty God."
"We consider the Holy Land a very special place and we consider the Israeli people our close friends, Shalom," he added.
Peres: Hizbullah destroying Lebanon
Addressing the negotiations with the Palestinians, Peres said that "Hamas is rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state. I believe you and Secretary of State Rice have invested so many efforts in order to let the Palestinians fix the mistakes made since 1947, when they refused to accept the Partition Plan. The main obstacle for the establishment of a Palestinian state is Hamas.
The president stressed that Israel was not the enemy of the Palestinians or Lebanon.
"On the contrary, we would like to see a united Lebanon living in peace and we have no ambitions, not for their water, not for their lands, and not for their politics. The Palestinians have suffered and this issue is a tragedy for them. The Arab world will have to take a stance, not in terms of the conflict between us and the Palestinians, but in terms of their fate – where they are moving to."
Presidents shake hands (Photo: Yaron Brener)
Bush said during the meeting that 60 years of democracy in Israel is cause for optimism for democratic change throughout the Middle East.
"What happened here is possible everywhere. I suspect if you looked back 60 years ago and tried to guess where Israel would be at that time, it would be hard to be able to project such a prosperous, hopeful land. No question, people would have said, 'We'd be surrounded by hostile forces."'
"The objective of the United States must be to support our strongest ally and friend in the Middle East ... And, at the same time, talk about a hopeful future," he said.
But Bush said he doubted that people would have been able to envision a modern Israel - the reason he brings optimism to the Middle East.
Bush and Peres spoke after briefly strolling through the gardens behind the Israeli president's residence. They sat with their aides under an ivy-covered sandstone trellis amid a grove of trees and flowers.
Stepping somewhat on the message of the anniversary festivities, Bush joked that Israel really isn't so long in the tooth. "As a person who's 61 years old, it doesn't seem that old," he said.
Bush then talked of the trials Israel has faced and how it must have been difficult to emerge as a prosperous, hopeful land.
He also got laughs when he told the 84-year-old Peres, "You're looking good. I hope you're feeling good."
Bush is also scheduled to meet Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak .He is also slated to deliver a speech at the Knesset.
Officials in Jerusalem estimate that the American president will not be pressing Israel on sensitive issues such as construction in the Jerusalem-area and settlement blocs or outpost evacuation. However, the US leader is expected to reiterate his desire to see Israel and the Palestinians agree on a framework for a peace deal by the end of the year.
During his visit, Bush is expected to meet with Prime Minister Olmert twice. In the talks, the two leaders are planning to discuss the issues that truly bother both Washington and Jerusalem, first and foremost the growing Iranian involvement in provoking regional tensions and Tehran's ongoing pursuit of nuclear capabilities.
An official in Jerusalem noted that the visit also comprises "highly important strategic, diplomatic, and security issues."
Aviram Zino and Reuters contributed to this report
First published: 11:17, 05.14.8