Bush
Arrives To Israel Focusing On Iran, Terrorism
By
Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency
Jerusalem, Israel ----- January 9, 2008 ....... Under a sunny,
warm sea of waving Israel and American flags, US President George
W. Bush arrived in Israel this morning. Bush was greeted by
hundreds of smiles as he walked down Air Force One to take part
in a historic ceremony with Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
and Israel President Shimon Peres.
It
has been ten years since a US President set foot on Israel soil.
In 1998, Bill Clinton met with former Israel Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu and the late Palestinian President Yasser
Arafat.
Preparations
for the Bush visit to Israel were extensive. But nothing was
more apparent than an overwhelming blanket of security. It appeared
that there were more men in blue uniforms and black suits than
guests. And that was the security for which one could easily
detect. From snipers and police on horseback to helicopters
and electronic jamming one could not have been in a safer place.
Israel
security personnel includes snipers, elite IDF units on foot
and car patrol, bomb-sniffing dogs and bodyguards. Israel has
even called up IDF reservists for the Bush visit. The security
operation, dubbed "Clear Skies," is costing Israel
$25,000 for every hour Bush is in the country.
White
House staff, US State Department officials, Secret Service agents,
technicians and US Marines joined Israel security personnel
as Bush shook the hands of both religious and political VIPs
who formed a reception line to meet him just yards from his
blue and white plane and several US transport and combat helicopters.
Security robots were positioned nearby to make sure there were
no surprises above or underground.
The
Ben-Gurion Airport ceremony for George Bush illustrated perfection.
Not a step was missed. The IDF marching bands practiced almost
till the last second. Dignitaries were shown to their places
and over 200 journalists were provided with photo op positions
and equipment to get their job done.
Photo: Joel
Leyden
The American and Israel national anthems were played with tearful
zest. From a public relations perspective both the Israel and
US governments could not have performed better. The Israel Foreign
Ministry, Israel Government Press Office, the Israel Defense
Forces and White House protocol and PR staff have much to be
proud of. It was nothing less than an open celebration of close
and indivisible friendship between two democratic states fighting
together on the front line against global Islamic terrorism.
Bush,
spoke after opening remarks by Ehud Olmert and Shimon Peres.
"We
welcome you to Israel with the words of prophet Isaiah,"
Peres said with a smile.
"We greet you as a great friend - you towered at moments
of need; you paved the road to peace. We embrace you as the
leader of a great nation, which - once having secured its freedom
- Never tired of providing it to others."
Peres
wasted no time in illustrating how critical this visit was.
"We take your advice to not underestimate the Iran threat.
Iran should not underestimate our resolve for self defense.
Your visit is on the eve of the sixth decade of our historic
re-birth. We were attacked seven times. We never lost a war.
We never lost desire for peace. We never postponed a moment
of democracy," said Peres. "The United States supported
us in war and peace. I can say wholeheartedly: thank you
Mr. President.
Peres then alluded to the Bush speech of February 2002 when
Bush stated: My vision is of two states living side by
side in peace and security. Peres said that at that time
it seemed very remote. "Now it is the basis for negotiations.
"Peace can move forward on three tracks: political
creating a frame of two states, economic raising the
quality of life across borders and security stopping
the madness of Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas."
"On your way here you said that 2008 should be the path-way
from words to action, from aspiration to reality. Indeed, the
next twelve months will be a moment of truth. It must not yield
just words. The days ahead are fateful. If time is not utilized
for peace-making then destructive armament, belligerence, and
terror will capture center stage. Wars are never too late, peace
is never too early. We have no right to miss this opportunity."
Peres
again quoted Isaiah: How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him that brigeth good tiding, that publishes
peace, that bringeth good tidings of food, that publisheth salvation."
"The
next 12 months will be a moment of truth," Peres told Bush
as they spoke under clear skies and a January chill. "It
must not yield just words."
"Mr. President, welcome to the gates of Jerusalem,"
Peres concluded.
"You
are our (Israel) strongest and most trusted ally in the battle
against terrorism and fundamentalism and a staunch supporter
of our quest for peace and stability," said Olmert. "Your
policies have reflected a basic understanding of the challenges
facing Israel in this troubled region and a solid commitment
to our national security," he added.
"I
come as an optimistic person and a realistic person - realistic
in my understanding that it's vital for the world to fight terrorists,
to confront those who would murder the innocent to achieve political
objectives," Bush responded. "I come with high hopes,
and the role of the United States will be to foster a vision
of peace. The role of the Israel leadership and the Palestinian
leadership is going to do the hard work necessary to define
a vision."
Bush
continued: "We see a new opportunity for peace here in
the Holy Land and for freedom across the region. Bush underscored
the deep US - Israel ties. "The alliance between our two
nations helps guarantee Israel's security as a Jewish state,"
Bush said.
President
Bush appeared warm, friendly and a bit tired after traveling
12 hours across the Atlantic and Mediterranean. To this INA
reporter, Bush appeared serious, more like one on a business
trip facing a long and challenging agenda. But he also looked
confident, knowing that no matter what it takes, he would get
the job done. Bush's attitude was very Israeli - very tachlas,
no nonsense, very bottom line.
Shortly
before President Bush arrived in Israel to try to build momentum
for stalled peace talks, Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza
Strip slammed southern Israel with rocket and mortar fire, striking
a civilian home.
George Bush will hear how the Israel children
of Sderot
are subject daily to Islamic terrorism from Gaza.
The
Bush three-day visit to Israel and the West Bank does not include
stops areas near or in the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by
Islamic Hamas terrorists who are not a party to negotiations.
Israel
police said 12 rocket were fired Wednesday, including seven
that landed inside Israel.
One
rocket hit the Israel home of Sderot resident Danny Dahan. Speaking
from the hospital where he was treated for shock, he told IDF
Army Radio that he had nearly been hit several times in recent
years. In the latest attack, the rocket tore through the ceiling
and landed directly on his baby's bed, he said.
Beyond
the official visits to Jerusalem and Ramallah, cocktail receptions
and closed door security meetings on Iran and Palestine terrorism,
Bush is scheduled to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial
in Jerusalem, Capernaum and Mt. of the Beatitudes.
One
could only pray that Bush could also make the time to visit
the children of the Israel Negev desert town of Sderot and reassure
them, as he reassures Olmert, that Israel and the US will win
the war on terrorism. That they will no longer have to cry,
running for their lives into air raid shelters in the days,
weeks and months ahead.
INA
reporters Tom Weiss and Liora Ghinsberg contributed to the above
report.