Bush. A true friend
Photo: AP
Olmert bids farewell
Photo: GPO
Olmert to bid Bush farewell
Prime minister heading for Washington next week for one last business meeting with US president, to be followed by intimate goodbye dinner. Outgoing leaders to discuss Israel-US relationship, Mideast peace process, Iranian nuclear threat
WASHINGTON - United States President George Bush is preparing a friendly intimate farewell meeting for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on the latter's last visit to Washington at the start of next week.
Bush and Olmert will hold a work meeting at the White House on Monday and afterwards will be joined by their wives, Laura and Aliza, for a special dinner.
Thanking Bush
Roni Sofer
'$30 billion we received over 10 years are just small part of what Bush administration has given us,' Olmert says, reassuring public that next US president would also be 'a friend to Israel'
Washington greatly appreciates Olmert's visit to the US to bid farewell to Bush and thank him for his special treatment towards Israel and his being a true friend.
Olmert's admiration of the US president is more than welcome in Washington, especially in light of Bush's low popularity, and the fact that his last weeks in office have been getting very little media coverage.
"The president is expected to discuss with Prime Minister Olmert the bilateral relationship between the US and Israel, the continued joint efforts to bring peace to the Middle East and a wide variety of regional and international topics," a White House statement said.
During Olmert's three-day visit to the US, he is also scheduled to meet with Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Two months before US president-elect Barack Obama is sworn in, and some three months before general elections are held in Israel, Olmert will try one last time to ensure Bush's commitment to Israel's position on the peace process, combating the Iranian nuclear threat, and continuing American assistance in the sale of advanced weapons to Israel.
