Olmert, Bush to discuss Iran nuke program

JERUSALEM, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert hosts U.S. President George Bush and his team to discuss the contentious Iranian nuclear program.

Olmert hosts Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and national security adviser Stephen Hadley next week to focus on the Palestinian issue and issues outlined in the latest U.S. National Intelligence Estimate regarding Iran's nuclear program, Ynetnews said Wednesday.

The NIE, a consortium opinion of the United States' intelligence community, suggested Iran halted work on a nuclear weapons program in 2003.

"Iran's uranium enrichment program is no less a concern to us than the Palestinian issue" unnamed sources with the Israeli's prime minister's office said Wednesday.

The sources told Ynetnews that "this is the first time that the subject will be discussed in person. We cannot say whether Israel will present to the president the information the country has on the subject. However, there is an understanding between Israel and the United States on the need to pursue efforts to stop uranium enrichment."

Israel and U.S. officials said they would also like to engage Palestinian representatives during Bush's visit.