Bush more Zionist than Olmert and his ministers, in agreement with Israelis on Iran and illegal settlement activities

Knesset members: “Bush more Zionist than Olmert”

Friday May 16, 2008 22:42 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

After the US President, George W. Bush, gave a speech at the Israeli Knesset on Thursday, several right wing members of Knesset said that “Bush seems to be more Zionist the Olmert”, and that “it is better to have Bush as a PM instead of Olmert”.

Some of the Knesset members even said that “Bush appears to be the one person who will achieve the Zionist aspirations”, the Arabs48 news website reported.

During the Knesset session Olmert said that upon achieving a peace deal with the Palestinians, the agreement will be presented to the Knesset for approval , and that such an agreement will achieve the approval of the Knesset and will be supported by the Israeli public.

In his speech, Olmert added that “Bush is a true and faithful friend to Israel”, and that the friendship between Israel and the United States is based on “moral, human and social values based on justice and peace”.

Olmert also said that the visit of Bush gives the peace process a push in order to achieve a two-state solution.

Yet, several right wing members of Knesset such as Zify Handel and Uri Ariel from the Mifdal party, objected to the statements of Olmert and said that “it seems that Bush will be a better Zionist leader that Olmert”.

Knesset member Ruby Revlin said that “comparing between Bush and Olmert, Bush appears the one who achieves the Zionist aspirations”.

During his Knesset speech, Bush said that “Israel will be celebrating its 120th anniversary as the World’s greatest democracies, a secure flourishing homeland of the Jewish people”, Israeli online daily, Haaretz reported.

He also said that Israel can always count on the United States to support it and “stand at its side”.

The speech of Bush totally ignored the Palestinian existence, the occupation and the suffering of the Palestinian people under occupation.

Knesset members: “Bush more Zionist than Olmert”

Some of the Knesset members even said that “Bush appears to be the one person who will achieve the Zionist aspirations”, the Arabs48 news website reported.

Olmert also said that the visit of Bush gives the peace process a push in order to achieve a two-state solution.

Knesset member Ruby Revlin said that “comparing between Bush and Olmert, Bush appears the one who achieves the Zionist aspirations”.

He also said that Israel can always count on the United States to support it and “stand at its side”.

The speech of Bush totally ignored the Palestinian existence, the occupation and the suffering of the Palestinian people under occupation.

Bush leaves Israel, heads to Saudi Arabia to discuss oil prices

Date: 16 / 05 / 2008 Time: 11:14
Jerusalem - Ma'an -

Israeli analysts have concluded that US President George W. Bush has given Israel more than it desired in his recent visit to the country to participate in the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Zionist state.

Bush addressed the Israeli Knesset on Thursday, greeting the parliament members in Hebrew, wishing them a "happy anniversary." During his speech the Knesset members applauded 19 times and gave him four standing ovations times at Bush's zionist tone. Silvan Shalom, former Israeli Foreign Minister, said that Bush's speech proved him to be more Zionist than a number of the Israeli Ministers.

Israeli Radio reported that Bush and his wife, Laura, held a reception on Thursday night at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, attended by thousands of guests. Then they had dinner at the Israeli Prime Minister's house.

Bush ended his visit to Israel on Friday morning and headed to Saudi Arabia in the second stage of his Middle East tour which will also include Egypt.

According to the Israeli Radio, in Saudi Arabia Bush will discuss with King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz an increase in oil production in order to bring down prices in the international market. They are also expected to discuss Iran, the situation in Iraq, and the peace process in the Middle East, as well as US arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

American-Israeli agreement to act decisively against the Iranian nuclear project

Date: 16 / 05 / 2008 Time: 16:42
Bethlehem - Ma'an -

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's spokesman, Marc Regev, said on Friday that Israel and the US have recently agreed to work decisively against the Iranian nuclear project.

Regev added that the Israeli and American points of view on the issue are identical and they will work towards preventing Iran from possessing any form of nuclear arsenal.

He described the diplomatic efforts to halt the Iranian nuclear project as '"positive but inadequate."

With regard to a military option, he said that a number of options have been proposed that are approved by Israel.

An Israeli political source said that Bush's declarations during his recent visit to Israel regarding the issue of Iran, were applauded with great satisfaction from the Israeli side.

Former Israeli air force commander: Military confrontation with Iran not ruled out

Date: 16 / 05 / 2008 Time: 10:54
Bethlehem - Ma'an -

Major General Eliezer Schekede said on Friday that an Israeli military operation against Iran has not been ruled out and the Israeli air force is ready for all options.

Schekede, who ended his duties as the commander of the Israeli Air Force this week, told Israeli Radio that Israeli aircraft flying over the Gaza Strip are facing real dangers from Palestinian projectiles.

PLC member Tamlieh: Bush's visit to Israel is an approval of settlement expansion in West Bank

Date: 15 / 05 / 2008 Time: 17:23
Ramallah - Ma'an -

Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) member, Jihad Tamleih, said on Thursday he considered the arrival of US President George W. Bush to Israel as tacit approval of the Israeli government adding new 600 residential units to the West Bank illegal settlement of Bitar Illet.

"Anyone who thinks that the US did not know previously of all of Israel's procedures is wrong because the unique and exceptional relationship between the two sides allows these acts" Tamlieh said.

He added that " the Israeli illegal settlement of Bitar Illet has special status as it is related to the changes in Israeli policy over the conflict with the Palestinians. Former Israeli premier Yitzhak Shamir visited this settlement on the eve of heading to Madrid to participate in the Peace Conference in 1991. The angry response of the residents of this settlement cowed the Israeli politicians at the time."

Tamlieh said he considered the "simultaneous occurrence of the two incidents is an opening of the settlement project by President Bush himself adding to that the statement of US Secretary of State Rice on Wednesday in which she ruled out the likelihood of reaching a peace agreement in 2008."

Tamlieh concluded by saying "this simultaneousness was completed with the ruling out of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reaching a full agreement of principles during the eight months until the end of this year."

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