Jerusalemites especially will utter a sigh or relief Friday morning, aware that President George W. Bush winds up his three day to the Holy Land, and once again they will have the capital to themselves, no sealed off streets, less traffic jams and public transport will return to normal.
Despite this, Bush is leaving behind an Israeli public who are also deeply indebted to the American President for being such a staunch supporter of Israel, a man who strongly condemns terror and has said on several occasions in recent days that the United States will always stand by Israel.
On Thursday, as he spoke before the Knesset, Bush declared that the US and Israel alliance is unbreakable. “’Earlier today I visited Masada, an inspiring monument to courage and sacrifice…at this historic site Israeli soldiers swear an oath that Masada will never fall again. Citizens of Israel, Masada shall never fall again and America will always stand by you.’”
Bush also directed a number of jabs at the United Nations and what some believe were pointedly directed at presidential candidate contender Sen Barack Obama.”.We consider it a source of shame that the United Nations routinely passes more human rights resolution against the freest democracy in the Middle East than any other nation in the world.”’
While Bush’s advisers later denied suggestions that the President’s comments referred to Obama, at the Knesset the American President said ‘”some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along,” he said. “We have heard this foolish delusion before as Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared Lord if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.”’ While the American President has gone out of his way to impress, endorse and support Israel, there were some political commentators who perceived the American President\s visit a spectacle, and questioned what the fuss was all about especially as it concerns two leaders who are both on their way out “’Three days of media coverage, photo opportunities and constant smiles won’t save two men whose term in office is coming to an end. Bush due to the elections and Olmert maybe forced to step down because of the police investigations, they said.Prior to his departure from Israel, Bush was to hold roundtable discussions at the Israel Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem with a group of Israelis aged 17-25 that were handpicked by the US Embassy. Then the American President will be driven to the airport where after a short departing ceremony he will head for Saudi Arabia.05/16/08
Margot Dudkevitch
Infolive.tv
| Title | Time | Category | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
