Bush Calls Israel a Jewish State
By Julie Stahl
CNSNews.com Jerusalem Bureau Chief
January 09, 2008

Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - The U.S.-Israeli alliance helps to guarantee the security of Israel as a Jewish State, President Bush said on Wednesday, shortly after arriving in Israel, the first stop of his Middle East tour.

That's exactly what Israel wants to hear. Israel is eager for the U.S. to back Israel as a Jewish state in any two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Characterizing Israel as a Jewish State undermines the Palestinian demand that hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees (and millions of their descendants) return to Israel - diluting its Jewishness demographically.

Bush emerged from Air Force One at midday, waving and smiling.

"What a beautiful day," Bush said as he walked down the red carpet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Shimon Peres, who were all wearing white shirts and light blue neckties. Later Olmert was overheard saying, "We prayed to God for this weather."

Bush is here for three days of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. He'll travel to the West Bank for some of the talks. He's also expected to make at least two stops at Christian holy sites in northern Israel overlooking the Sea of Galilee and in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus.

In brief comments at the airport before being whisked to Jerusalem by helicopter, Bush said that Israel and the U.S. were strong allies that had built two "great democracies" with free economies that "unleashed the potential of our people."

Bush said Israel and the U.S. had to guard against terror and defend themselves, but more than that, they are seeking peace. "We see a new opportunity for peace here in the holy land and for freedom across the region," Bush said.

Bush is here on a "working visit" to energize the Israeli-Palestinian peace process the U.S. re-launched in November, at a U.S.-sponsored conference in Annapolis, Maryland.

He is expected to pressure Israel to halt settlement construction, including that in eastern Jerusalem. But Israel does not consider its capital city to fall under the road map restrictions on West Bank construction.

Olmert hailed America as Israel's "strongest and most trusted ally in the battle against terrorism and fundamentalism and a staunch supporter of our quest for peace and stability."

He also said that from the beginning, Bush's policies have "reflected a basic understanding of the challenges facing Israel in this troubled region and a solid commitment to our national security.

Israel's ceremonial President Shimon Peres mentioned Iran almost immediately in his welcoming address.

"We take your advice to not underestimate the Iranian threat," Peres said. "Iran should not underestimate our resolve for self defense."

Bush is scheduled to meet with Peres in the afternoon and later with Olmert and other Israeli officials.

He reportedly has changed his mind and also plans to meet with Israeli opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu, who heads the rightwing Likud Party, on Thursday morning.

Visiting leaders usually meet with the opposition leader to get an additional Israeli perspective. But earlier this week it was reported that Bush was snubbing Netanyahu because Netanyahu opposes the rush toward Israeli-Palestinian agreement.

Jerusalem was quiet on Wednesday as many Jerusalemites apparently decided to heed police warnings about closed roads and traffic jams and just stayed home. Before Bush's arrival, some schools in the vicinity of Bush's travel routes were also closed and children were leaving early.