Mideast Unrest Shadows Bush's Peace Push

Despite Troubling Realities In Region, President Says Democratic Israel A Cause For Optimism

(CBS/AP)  President Bush said Wednesday that 60 years of Israel's existence is cause for optimism for democratic change throughout the Middle East. "What happened here is possible everywhere," Bush said, opening a trip divided between ceremonial duties and a new push for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

"I suspect if you looked back 60 years ago and tried to guess where Israel would be at that time, it would be hard to be able to project such a prosperous, hopeful land," Mr. Bush said during a meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres. "No question, people would have said, 'We'd be surrounded by hostile forces."'

Yet Mr. Bush's message of optimism was immediately offset by troubling realities in the region.

A weakened Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert fended off corruption allegations. Another burst of violence erupted in the Gaza Strip. And an Israeli Cabinet minister claimed he's won approval to expand settlement activity in the West Bank, a development that could undermine peace talks with Palestinians.

CBS News correspondent Robert Berger said regular citizens on both sides of the divide were quick to voice their pessimism about any lasting peace agreement being reached by the end of the year - a goal Mr. Bush had voiced firm belief in after a summit last year in Maryland.

Berger reported that Israelis blame the Palestinians for the impasse in the peace process and the Palestinians blame Israel - but neither side believes the latest shuttle diplomacy by the American leader will have a significant effect.

Mr. Bush, trying to hold together peace talks in his waning months in office, said modern Israel gives him a strong example to preach optimism to the Middle East.

"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," he said.

Mr. Bush has expressed confidence, though more tempered lately, that an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement would be struck before his term ends. But he and his aides are holding out little hope for a major breakthrough during this five-day trip to Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said ahead of the trip that reaching a deal to end one of the world's longest-running and most difficult disputes within the next eight months "might be improbable, but it's not impossible."

Peres backed Mr. Bush's hope for an accord, saying Israelis want to work with Palestinians.

"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."

However, just hours before Mr. Bush arrived, Eli Yishai, a right-wing minister in Olmert's Cabinet, said Olmert had agreed to the construction of hundreds of homes in a West Bank settlement, though Olmert spokesman Mark Regev disputed the claim, saying no decision had been made. In current peace talks, the Palestinians demand that Israel stop building in areas they both want for a future state, and Israel's failure to do so - despite pressure from the Bush administration - has increased Palestinian disappointment and frustration.

Amid Palestinians' declining hopes for an agreement, they also are marking a different sort of anniversary - the "nakba," or catastrophe, the word they use to describe Israel's establishment which resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Israel has imposed a closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip during Bush's visit, preventing Palestinians from entering the country. Normally, tens of thousands of Palestinians are permitted into Israel each day for work, health care and family visits.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Mr. Bush national security adviser Stephen Hadley suggested that Mr. Bush might acknowledge the Palestinian view of the milestone when marking the anniversary of the Jewish state's founding on May 14, 1948.

Meanwhile, the violence continued. Two Palestinian civilians and three militants were killed Wednesday in Israeli military raids on the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical officials said. One of the civilians was a 17-year-old riding his bike, doctors added. Israel frequently raids Gaza to try to stop militants from firing rockets and mortars at Israeli border communities. But the attacks occur almost daily, and two Israelis were killed in the past week.

Israeli TV station reported Wednesday that a rocket fired from Gaza exploded in a shopping center in the Israeli city of Ashkelon. Channel 2 TV reported that an unknown number of people have been injured.

Upon Mr. Bush's arrival at the airport at Tel Aviv, he hugged Olmert, the subject of a new criminal investigation that could push him from office. Earlier, broadcasters' microphones had picked up Olmert's assurances to Hadley: "Holding on, holding on, don't worry."

Olmert has rejected charges that he accepted illegal campaign contributions and possibly bribes, but he also pledged to step down if he is indicted.

In the Gaza Strip, Hamas called the Bush visit a "bad omen."

"No greetings to you, Bush, on our holy land," said Hamas strongman Mahmoud Zahar. "Your people will punish you one day."

And in Tehran, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that Israel is dying and that its 60th anniversary celebrations are an attempt to prevent its "annihilation."

Peres chastised Hezbollah for aiming to destroy Lebanon and accused Hamas of working to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state. The U.S. has labeled both as terrorist groups.

Mr. Bush and Peres spoke after briefly strolling through the gardens behind the Israeli president's residence. They sat with their aides under an ivy-covered sandstone trellis amid a grove of trees and flowers.

Stepping somewhat on the message of the anniversary festivities, Mr. Bush joked that Israel really isn't so long in the tooth.

"As a person who's 61 years old, it doesn't seem that old," he said.

Mr. Bush, who had visited Israel in January, was set to speak Wednesday night at a conference in Jerusalem celebrating Israel's anniversary. The conference, convened by Peres, includes former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, writer and Holocaust survivor Eli Wiesel, and other Jewish Nobel laureates.

[erasmus81]

"The sides for WWIII are being Choosen." Posted by AJMarine111 at 03:56 PM : May 14, 2008

And I believe with the way things are going, WWIII isn''t too awfully far away.

[ajzmcg]

read fourwinds10.com

[ajzmcg]

read fourwinds10.com

[leftyintexas]

Where did I ever say I voted for Bush ?????

As usual, all your arguments are based on assumptions and copying off tinhat websites.

Ok,
go back to laughing as I think I saw you with the hyenas at the Bronx Zoo and you sure are good at that

Posted by earth56 at 04:47 PM : May 14, 2008

You have no clue do you? You are a bushie and too cowardly to admit it. You support him and his policies or you wouldn''t be trying to argue with me. Am I right? Of course I am. I''m still waiting for you to come up with something intellegent to say. You like to dodge the questions and attack those who raise them... a very typical response from a bushie dead-ender. You just keep on dodging! Ha!Ha!Ha!

[leftyintexas]

I questioned your statement and numbers just like I question your maturity and ignorance.

I''''m glad I could make you laugh and don''''t forget to give Texas back to Mexico since your so hubris.

Now go ask your mommy if you can go outside and play now that you passed 2nd grade for the week.

You question my maturity and ignorance?? Ha!Ha!Ha!Ha!. Hey Fool, I didn''t vote for bush and I don''t support ANY of his so-called policies. AND YOU DO? HA! HA! HA! You only have 251 days left to enjoy! Have fun! Ha!Ha!

[ajmarine111]

US President George W. Bush, following a nearly two-hour meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said it was clear that Iran was behind the current instability and violence in Lebanon and that the United States would stand with the government of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora.

http://tinyurl.com/4doz85


Hands Off Lebanon, Saud Tells Iran
Mohammed Rasooldeen, Arab News

RIYADH/BEIRUT, 14 May 2008 %u2014 Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal yesterday warned that Iran%u2019s support for Hezbollah%u2019s %u201Ccoup%u201D in Lebanon would affect Tehran%u2019s relations with Arab and Islamic countries.

The Lebanese Army, meanwhile, expanded its troop deployment to several tense areas around the country, hours after it said soldiers would use force if needed to impose order after almost a week of clashes between government supporters and Hezbollah followers.

%u201COf course, for Iran to back the coup that happened in Lebanon and support it will have an impact on its relations with all Arab countries,%u201D Prince Saud said, addressing a press conference in Riyadh.


http://tinyurl.com/4b6lvv



The sides for WWIII are being Choosen.

[leftyintexas]

They weren''''t kicked out.
The Arab countrys in 1948 told the Arabs to flee so they could "push the Jews into the sea "

Get a book on the subject instead of coming up with fairy tales.

The Arabs lost.period

Based on your argument then 10 million Germans who were relocated from Poland into Germany should get to go back to Poland.

I could mention over 50 historical instances in the last 100 years that would probably have you packing your bags and have to relocate unless your a hypocrite.

Posted by earth56 at 03:07 PM : May 14, 2008

Glad you brought up the Germans in Poland. You are obviously having difficulty understanding the history ''books'' you claim to have read. The Germans were kicked out of Poland not ''relocated'' just like the Arabs were in Palestine. Did the Arabs ''relocate'' when Jewish settlements are being currently being built on their land? I think not, my toe tapping little friend.

[ebrew3]

It is tragically amusing that the Bush administration''s "hands off" policy of "let Israel and the Palestinians resolve their own issues" has come full circle. Now President Bush is trying to broker Mid-East peace with a too little, too late effort.

The opportunities that have been lost by this President are staggering. His presidency may be the marker historians use for the dismantling of the Republic and the end of American empire.

[leftyintexas]

Typical of you to inflate numbers like evrything else you inflate

Posted by earth56 at 03:09 PM : May 14, 2008

Keep talking, your ignorance becomes more pronounced with each you word you spew. You don''t question my statement only the number? Ha!Ha!Ha! A typical bushie dead ender. You are hilarious!

[quetzalcrist]

Either way SHRUB is not a peace maker,
he will be clueless, just photo ops for his library,
if you want real peace, Force Ishreal to give the land back, and resettle them near Crawford...

[leftyintexas]

What about the 850,000 Jews kicked out of all those Arab countrys and resetled in Israel ?

Posted by earth56 at 02:43 PM : May 14, 2008

And the millions of Arabs kicked out of Palestine and resettled by the Jews?

[superdem]

A terrible mistake was made 60 years ago, and we perpetuate that mistake today. That''s why we are hated throughout the Middle East. We supported the theft of arab land and the displacement of the Palestinian people. We pretend that did NOT happen, but it DID and millions of people will never settle for that. To make things worse, we continue to let this injustice fester, and we label those seeking justice terrorists. Obviously Israel cannot be a democracy, because it exists as a minority-ruled Jewish state is a sea of arab muslims. It must therefore be an aparteid state, in the guise of a democracy, exactly as President Carter said it is. For this truth, Carter is demonized, but it is still true. No other analysis is possible, if one cares about the truth. America''s national interests suffer because our leaders perpetuate this delusion, which they are paid to do.

[petro49l]

Bin Laden and Zawahiri are both incorrigible homosexuals. The world is in dire trouble because of their schemes. Men are unpopular with women when considering their misogyny. President Bush should immediately order an attack on their residence.

[quetzalcrist]

leftyintexas ....

the only thing SHRUB has built is a Hollywood set of a ranch in Crawlfurd, and a reputation for being
the worst president ever.

if his idea of building includes a free Iraq, then i guess we can honestly say he Liberated the average Iraqui from,
Electricity service 24 hours a day,

[leftyintexas]

read your own post moron....bush said "we built"...not "i built" what is wrong with you? your life so consumed with Bush bashing that you make lame stupid posts?

Posted by jamesm12341 at 01:02 PM : May 14, 2008

jamesm12341...well, we all thought you had ''cut and run'' like YOUR leader bush did when he heard he might be going to Viet Nam. Okay , my slick little toe tapping friend....what democracies did he and you build?

[lochlan-2009]

"Expectations Low As Israel Announces More Settlement Construction In Palestinian Territory"

Hmmm, Israel isn''t stealing Palestinian land at all. Never have. Isn''t that what the Bush apologists have been posting?

[quetzalcrist]

underdogus ...

as i remember correctly, the cartoon your moniker stands for had a conscience,
im sorry youre using the underdog characters memory in vain.....

[leftyintexas]

since when did Land Grabbing and Apparteid become a democratic society????
Posted by QuetzalCrist..Al-Zawari,osama bin laden,Ahmadinejad Approve this message...Quetzal you''''re a Jihadist supporter and a fraud!!

Posted by underdogus at 01:07 PM : May 14, 2008

And you are a FOOL.

[acolton1]

Posted by Petro49L at 12:11 PM : May 14, 2008

YOU POSTED : President Bush should insist on the prosecution of those two homosexuals, Bin Laden and Zawahiri. LAMO. HAHAHAHAHA!

Being Gay my self I don''''t think that Ben Laden and Zawahiri are very attractive and any Gay Guy in their right mind would not even go out on a date with somebody who smells like Goats or Barn Animals. Ben Laden and Zawahiri need major Make Overs and get sportin that Metro Sexual look, if they just got some products from HSN and shaved and used some moisturizer and a little of hygene they both would go from FIZZLE TO SIZZLE in about 45 minutes and they would have gay guys swingin from their ***** all night.

[randynason]

George "Douch*bag" Bush promoting peace? Are you outta your mind? He''s promoting himself and attempting to sell a manufactured image. I already have my image of this "compassionate conservative," and it''s not a pretty one.