Bush Is Receptive To Israel’s Strategy
President Bush embraced Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert’s strategy of withdrawing from isolated Jewish settlements on the West Bank and imposing final borders. Palestinian failure to
negotiate peace will not be a barrier to support for unilateral actions. President Bush also expressed satisfaction that Olmert would first make a serious attempt to craft an agreement with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
“The Prime Minister’s ideas could be an important step toward the peace we both support,” Bush said in the East Room. Olmert was at his side.
Olmert is now able to
proceed with his plans to resolve territorial disputes with the Palestinians. Bush pushed for Olmert to include Abbas in discussions before proceeding. Olmert vowed to “exhaust all efforts” to find a mutually acceptable peace deal.
“We will look and find every possible avenue to help
establish a process of negotiations on the basis of these conditions. However, as I said, we will not wait indefinitely,” Olmert said.
Olmert said he will proceed with his plan to draw his own boundaries if he does not find a negotiating partner. He gave a timeline of three to four years for this to happen. For his part, Abbas met Monday with Olmert’s foreign minister. Abbas’ ability to negotiate much less enforce an agreement remains unclear.
Mr. Bush took the opportunity to size up Olmert as a partner in the Middle East. Bush values relationships with foreign leaders and those who are able to establish those relationships often benefit. Israeli Ambassador Daniel Ayalon said “The meeting went very well in terms of creating the bond between the two leaders. They are on the same wavelength, sharing the same vision and strategic outlook.”
While Bush pressed Olmert to negotiate with Abbas Olmert used the visit to press Bush about Iran. Bush repeated his vow to defend Israel against Iran: “In the event of any attack on Israel, the United States will come to Israel’s aid.”