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May 14, 2008 Following his meeting with
U.S. President George W. Bush Wednesday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israel was intent on abiding
by the timeframe set at the Annapolis Middle East peace conference to
achieve a deal with the Palestinians by the end of the year.
At a joint press conference held in Jerusalem, Olmert
added that Israel was making enormous efforts to
resolve the contentious issues of borders, refugees and security, and
laying the groundwork for discussing the volatile issue of Jerusalem in the
future.
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Olmert addressed the issue of Iran, saying
that the Islamic republic's disputed nuclear program was the greatest
danger facing the region today.
In reference to the escalating violence in the Gaza
Strip, Olmert said that Israel will not tolerate
attacks by Hamas. Olmert added that he hoped Israel would not have to
"act against Hamas in other ways with military power that Israel
hasn't yet started to use in a serious manner."
As Olmert spoke, a rocket fired from Gaza slammed into a shopping center in southern Israel, wounding at
least ten people.
"Here we are in the heart of a thriving democracy,
yet that democracy, like other democracies, is
being challenged by extremists and terrorists," said Bush.
He said he was referring to the "existential"
threat that a nuclear Iran would pose to Israel.
Earlier Wednesday, shortly after his arrival in Israel,
Bush vowed to continue his country's support for
Israel.
"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," Bush said in Jerusalem. He
also signalled his aim to make a new push for
Israeli-Palestinian peace during his three-day trip.
Peres, a Nobel peace laureate, backed Bush's optimism
for a Mideast accord, saying Israelis want to work with Palestinians.
"We are not their enemies," he said.
"We would like to see
the Palestinians living together," he said. "They have suffered a
great deal of their life. The separation is a tragedy for them and for the
rest of us."
Olmert: Strategic alliance with U.S. one of Israel's
pillars of security
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
earlier on Wednesday welcomed Bush upon his arrival in Israel, praising his
visit as an extraordinary gesture of friendship.
In opening remarks, the prime minister declared:
"Our strategic alliance with the U.S is one of Israel`s pillars of security."
Bush, for his part, addressed the assembled Israeli
dignitaries at Ben Gurion international airport, stating: "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," he said at the red-carpet
ceremony.
The U.S. president concluded: "We consider the
Holy Land a very special place and we consider the Israeli people our close friends. Shalom."
As an army band played the American and Israeli
national anthems, the U.S. president was greeted by Israel's political
leadership, including Olmert, Peres and opposition leader MK Benjamin
Netanyahu.
Peres, who also spoke at the
ceremony, told Bush that, "We are grateful to you for gracing this
occasion." He then lauded the U.S. president for his "steady
dedication to the promotion of peace and security."
"For when they shall say, Peace
and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a
woman with child; and they shall not escape" (I Thessalonians 5:3). Retired
pastor/teacher James McCutchan
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