JERUSALEM, May 15, 2008
Bush Reassures Israel As Peace Deal Stalls
Speech Touting Unbreakable Bond With Israel Risks Alienating Palestinians
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"Israel's population may be just over 7 million. But when you confront terror and evil, you are 307 million strong, because the United States of America stands with you," President George W. Bush told Israel's parliament Thursday May 15, 2008. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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"We believe that religious liberty is fundamental to civilized society, so we condemn anti-Semitism in all forms whether by those who openly question Israel's right to exist, or by others who quietly excuse them," Mr. Bush said.
Meanwhile, Palestinians marked the 60th anniversary of their uprooting with rallies, sirens and black balloons- an annual ritual that turned even darker this year because of crippling internal divisions, diminishing independence hopes and the stark contrast to Israel's all-out birthday bash. Palestinians call it their "nakba," Arabic for catastrophe.
Mr. Bush's embrace of Israel at a time when the Palestinians were mourning was bound to further harm the tainted U.S. image in the Palestinian areas and across the Arab world.
Palestinian analyst Hani al-Masri said Mr. Bush cannot be a peacemaker if he sides with Israel. "It is not a peace process. It is a process without peace," he told CBS News correspondent Robert Berger.
In a speech to the Knesset, or parliament, Mr. Bush asserted that the United States has an unbreakable bond with Israel. He said Americans believe that Israel has a right to defend itself from extremists and "killers pledged to its destruction."
"Some people suggest that if the United States would just break ties with Israel, all our problems in the Middle East would go away," Mr. Bush said. "This is a tired argument that buys into the propaganda of the enemies of peace and America utterly rejects it. Israel's population may be just over 7 million. But when you confront terror and evil, you are 307 million strong, because the United States of America stands with you."
Mr. Bush's five-day Mideast journey, which was to take him to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, represents another effort to push Mideast peace talks forward as his time in office winds down. Israel and the Palestinians hope to reach an agreement before Mr. Bush leaves office next January.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who spoke before Mr. Bush, said his nation is ready for peace and that he is working on the U.S. vision of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.
Olmert said he is committed to carrying out Mr. Bush's vision of forming an independent Palestinian state next to Israel. And when a deal is reached, Olmert says the divided parliament and Israeli public will rally behind it.
"When the day comes for a historic peace agreement between us and our Palestinian neighbors. It will be brought to the approval of this house," Olmert said. "I am convinced: a peace agreement that will reflect the vision you presented to the world in June 2002, and that will be based on two states for two people, a Jewish state and a Palestinian state, living side by side in peace. This agreement will be approved in the Knesset by a large majority and will be supported by the vast majority of the Israeli public."
The chamber reacted with silence and nervous laughter, then Mr. Bush began to laugh. Two hardline lawmakers walked out of the chamber in protest. As Mr. Bush began speaking, three lawmakers held up pieces of papers with the message, "We shall overcome." Security guards approached them and led them from the chamber.
Mr. Bush began his address by exclaiming in Hebrew, "Yom Atzmaut Sameach," or "Happy Independence Day." He spoke of Israeli history and said that the United States will stand with the Israelis against terrorism and extremism. "We will never let down our guard or lose our resolve," he said.
Mr. Bush took special aim at Iran, saying the United States stands with Israel in opposing moves by Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons.
"Permitting the world's leading sponsor of terror to possess the world's deadliest weapons would be an unforgivable betrayal for future generations," the president said. "For the sake of peace, the world must not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon."
Several months of negotiations have produced no tangible results, compounded by Olmert's growing weakness caused by a widening corruption probe. And opinion polls show support for U.S.-backed Palestinian leaders seeking a peace deal is plummeting.
The Palestinian economy remains stagnant, despite a massive injection of foreign aid, in part because of Israel's reluctance to ease its restrictions on movement and trade.
Meanwhile, the separation of Hamas-run Gaza and the Abbas-ruled West Bank is deepening. The rivals are not on speaking terms, and the two territories that were to make up the future state are cut off from one another by Israeli travel bans.
"The level of hopelessness is very strong," said Palestinian pollster Jamil Rabih, adding that a recent survey indicates that half the Palestinians don't expect to see a state established within the next 25 years.
"There is nothing on the horizon for us," he added.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 52 Commentsshrub has managed to upset the middle east apple cart so badly, the very mention of his name will bring down curses or praise, depending on who you talk to.
Well, at the very least, shrub has managed to make sure his name will not be forgotten by middle east historians for whatever that is worth!
spit take
Until this spoiled, petulant child leaves office the nation and the planet is in peril.
88% of Americans approved the Iraq invasion 1 day after president Bush announced his decision on national TV.
Then, they voted for Bush TWICE.
Congratulations!, Americans get exactly what they deserve and much more.
On May 15, 1948, the American President advocated the creation of the State of Israel in the heart of the Muslim Middle-East. 2 years later, 4.5 millions Palestinians were forced out of their homes and lands without compensation.
I am not going to say that this is Terrorism but I will say America is bleeding Treasury and blood because of one dumb religious decision 60 years ago. This bleeding keeps exploding as long as we continue UnConditional Support to Israel. I cannot believe we care much more about Israel than of ourselves.
2 weeks after 9/11, Osama Bin Ladin released his 1st video. In the video, he clearly listed the top 3 reasons for bombing the twin towers. The 1st reason was the US military base 60 miles from their Muslim''s holy Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The 2nd reason was the Palestine crisis. Now, Bush wants a State of Palestine. Osama is really winning BIG here.
On Osama Bin Ladin 2nd released video, Osama states that they will destroy America Economically and not Militarily. So far, Osama is really winning Big here.
According to our US State Department, Anti-Semitics is exploding around the world:
http://www.reuters.com/article/t
opNews/idUSN1334791720080314?feedType=RS
SfeedName=topNews&rpc=22&sp=true
Bush was the only foreign leader at Israel''s birthday party. Israel is alone and isolated by it own PR.
I blame only the Zionists inside Israel and America. The Zionists of the world should fight this War on Terrorism!
I little correction...
WE WILL DEFEND OUR MASTER ISRAEL!!! THE HELL WITH AMERICA!!!
Sticks and rocks may hurt my bones but words will never hurt my bones.
Israel is nothing w/o America. So, when the America Empire enter the 4th Great Depression, Israel will mysteriously disappear too.
"I WILL BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS ISRAEL, AND CURSE THOSE WHO CURSE ISRAEL GEN: 12...."
Which of the 1864 religions of the world have that specific statement in their bible? Why is it that your pro-Israel God is failing you so far around the world?
Please continue to use negative words. You are only fallomg into my trap. This is guaranteeing the Nov-2008 election is all mine. Incredible, the NeoCons have lost 3 special elections in a roll in Republican strongholds using these same negative words.
Please use your God given intelligence.
I feel sorry for the State of Israel because they have created and are creating their own Death Sentence. The 3 religions war for Jerusalem is mankind cancer.
Posted by underdogus at 11:45 AM : May 15, 2008
Who gives a fat rat''s a$$ what the bible says?
Hasn''t that book brought enough death and destruction to the world?
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Posted by underdogus at 11:45 AM
You shouldn''t be misquoting the Bible. Include the whole text because you are being deceptive in your cherry picking. It''s too bad you people spend so much time cherry picking, while you ignore grave violations that you commit daily.
you don''t understand???
Posted by underdogus
True. The jews killed jesus and made him a martyr!
if it were not for the fact that as a species we are still believing in superstitions,
and instilling into them our worst fears.
THEY ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN THE NAZIS INVASION OF POLAND IN 1939!
Could Bush Be Prosecuted for War Crimes?
By Jan Frel, AlterNet. Posted July 10, 2006.
A Nuremberg chief prosecutor says there is a case for trying Bush for the ''supreme crime against humanity, an illegal war of aggression against a sovereign nation.''
AMERICA STAND UP OR SHUT UP!
- McCain''s own lobbyist who lobbied for the dictatorship in Burma lost his job after McCain rewarded him with the GOP National Convention.
Republicans Profit from dishonoring American values.
years but he will no doubt be very cross if he doesn''t get his way now. Perhaps daddy could help.
I love America but I certainly do not approve of bush, his neocon men cabinet, the actions of the military or our support for terrorist groups (like the Israeli military.
"Permitting the world''s leading sponsor of terror to possess the world''s deadliest weapons would be an unforgivable betrayal for future generations," the president said.
Which of course is Israel, they are the world''s leading sponsor of terrorism this (defining terrorism as killing civilians for a political aim, they have the highest total this year far more than any other state). And he is exactly right that Israel''s nuclear weapons are destabilizing the whole region.
"Some people suggest that if the United States would just break ties with Israel, all our problems in the Middle East would go away," Mr. Bush said.
Again, an exactly correct and logical statement from this weird, bizarre liar Bush. He can''t even lie well, or he has some strange compulsion to reveal his lies even as he speaks them. He is a genuine mental case, the most bizarre president ever.
"The chamber reacted with silence and nervous laughter, then Mr. Bush began to laugh"
need we say more....cynical or arrogant?
The land initially purchased by Jews immigrating to the area in the late 19th century was useless land which the new settlers turned into something.
The so called effort to force Arabs out of Palestine in the 30s was actually the result of the Grand Mufti of the Islamic population ordering his people to leave.
The ''Palestinian" camps are not to any appreciable extent supported by Arab Countries.
In 1990, Saddam was supported by the Palestinians due to his plan to settle the Palestinians in Kuwait. The palestinians were practically his only support.
pende.jo...
Quack goes the lame duck in his glass bunker.
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