George Bush: 'historic moment'

By Marc Shoffman - Wednesday 9th January 2008


Olmert and Bush

George W Bush has described talks between Israel and the Palestinians as an "historic moment" during his first visit to the Jewish State as President.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Jerusalem with Olmert, after a two hour meeting with the premier, Bush vowed US support in peace talks and said his first question to Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas when they meet today would be about stopping rocket attacks.

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Bush proclaimed after meeting Abbas today that peace can be achieved before the end of his term next year, "I believe it possible, not only possible, I believe it's going to happen, that there will be a signed peace treaty by the time I leave office."

He called on both sides to make concessions and said West Bank outposts had "to go" while calling on Arab States to "support the Palestinians as they make tough choices.”

He said: "In terms of outposts, yes, they ought to go. We've been talking about it for four years. The agreement was, get rid of outposts, illegal outposts, and they ought to go."

What can be achieved from the Bush visit? Click here to discuss.

Action was also promised on the Iranian threat, one of Israel’s main subjects for discussion during the trip. Bush gave assurance that Israel was taking the threat of Iran seriously despite a US National Intelligence Estimate report in November claiming that Iran was no longer developing nuclear weapons.

Bush said: “The NIE report may have sent a signal to some that the US doesn't think that Iran is a threat. I have said that Iran was a threat, Iran is a threat and Iran will be a threat if the international community doesn't come together to prevent it from getting nuclear weapon.”

Olmert said he was happy with Bush’ position on Iran and said peace talks towards a two state solution with the Palestinians were being taken seriously, although he warned that rocket attacks must stop. “Both sides, I believe, are very seriously trying to move forward in order to realise the vision," he said.

Over 10,000 policemen and security guards have been deployed to protect the American President who also met today with Israeli President Shimon Peres at his residence and has an appointment with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas tomorrow.

Welcoming Bush at Ben Gurion Airport, Peres said: "We greet you as a great friend - You towered at moments of need; You paved the road to peace.

"We embrace you as the leader of a great nation, which –Once having secured its freedom – Never tired of providing it to others."

Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski was the first to meet with US President George Bush at the King David Hotel. He presented the President with an engraving of Heinrich Buenting's 1581 cloverleaf map which shows Jerusalem at the center of the world.

Bush will visit Yad Vashem on Friday morning where the museum’s Chairman Avner Shalev will present him with a replica of an illustrated Bible by Jewish artist Carol Deutsch, before departing for the Persian Gulf.

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