Bush in Israel as part of Middle East tour

Published: May 14, 2008 at 7:43 AM
U.S. President George. W. Bush arrives in Israel

JERUSALEM, May 14 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush arrived Wednesday in Israel to kick-start a peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians as part of a five-day Middle East tour.

Bush, who arrived in Tel Aviv on the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel, met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Shimon Peres to reaffirm relations. Bush is to address the Knesset Thursday, The New York Times said.

Bush plans to meet Israeli leaders and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to push the peace plan brokered in Annapolis, Md., that paves the way to a future Palestinian state.

Most analysts say it is unlikely Bush will make significant progress on the peace plan, though in an interview with CBS Radio Monday, the president said there is a "good chance" to reach a deal.

Israeli officials expressed cautious optimism about the visit by the U.S. president, with Ami Ayalon, a member of parliament, calling it a "last chance" to bring peace to the region.

"If the visit passes and the pragmatists in the region feel that nothing has changed," Ayalon said, "I believe we are headed toward more violence and more terror and more power for Hamas."

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Chicago students arrested after food fight (8 min)
Intel to pay AMD $1.25B settlement (29 min)
UPI NewsTrack Business (31 min)
Crude oil prices slide hard Thursday (35 min)
Unemployed grandmother hits street for job (38 min)
One Canadian cow sells for $1.2 million (42 min)
UPI NewsTrack Health and Science News (55 min)
fark
Elmo vs Spiderman vs Chewbacca: LA's superhero turf wars heat up again
John King to replace Lou Dobbs, says CNN. Dobbs' wife reportedly pleased
Guy's cell phone minutes run out, so he calls 911 five times to see if anyone will have sex with...
*POP*
Woman wins $1M McDonalds Monopoly prize. Plans to use winnings on new house, car, angioplasty
You went full North by Northwest, dude. Never go full North by Northwest