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Iran key as Israeli PM meets Bush Iran key as Israeli PM meets Bush
(about 3 hours later)
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is set to meet US President George W Bush at the White House, with Iran and Palestinian issues high on the agenda. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is set to meet US President George W Bush at the White House, with Iran, Iraq and the Palestinian conflict on the agenda.
Israel has expressed increasing concern over Iran in the light of Tehran's refusal to heed United Nations calls for it to halt its nuclear programme.Israel has expressed increasing concern over Iran in the light of Tehran's refusal to heed United Nations calls for it to halt its nuclear programme.
The visit also comes as Mr Bush ponders a change in policy on Iraq after the Republicans were hit in mid-term polls. The visit also comes as Mr Bush ponders a change in policy on Iraq after the Republicans lost mid-term polls.
The US may try to involve Syria and Iran more in deciding Iraq's future.The US may try to involve Syria and Iran more in deciding Iraq's future.
If someone wants to reach a compromise with Iran, he must understand that Iran won't be ready to do so unless it is afraid Israeli PM Ehud Olmert
Mr Olmert has already warned the US against the possible effects of a premature withdrawal from Iraq, which he said could lead to civil war with serious implications for moderate governments in the region.Mr Olmert has already warned the US against the possible effects of a premature withdrawal from Iraq, which he said could lead to civil war with serious implications for moderate governments in the region.
Iran talks The meeting comes six months after Mr Olmert's first at the White House and follows a summer of fighting in Lebanon and Gaza which has forced him to abandon his central policy - unilateral withdrawal from parts of the West Bank.
Israeli operations in Gaza are likely to be discussedDonald Rumsfeld, who resigned as US defence secretary after the election defeats, was opposed to any dialogue with Iran. A recent poll put his approval rating among Israelis at about 20%.
The man expected to replace him, Robert Gates, has suggested the dialogue could be possible. Unidentified threat
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has in the past called for Israel to be wiped off the map. Donald Rumsfeld, who resigned as US defence secretary after the election defeats, was opposed to any dialogue with Iran.
Mr Olmert said Mr Ahmadinejad was "a man who is ready to commit crimes against humanity". Israeli operations in Gaza are likely to be discussedThe man expected to replace him, Robert Gates, has suggested the dialogue could be possible.
Mr Olmert and Mr Bush are also likely to talk about Lebanon, where Israeli forces fought Hezbollah in the summer. Mr Ahmadinejad has called for an end to the Israeli state and has described the Nazi holocaust as a myth.
The issue of continuing Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip will probably also be discussed. Mr Olmert said Iran should be more actively deterred from completing its nuclear programme, which Israel and Western powers say is intended for military use.
"If someone wants to reach a compromise with Iran, he must understand that Iran won't be ready to do so unless it is afraid," Mr Olmert said.
"Israel has various options which I am not prepared to discuss."
US support
Israel is widely considered to be the only nuclear armed state in the Middle East, although it has never admitted having the capability.
An Iranian official said on Sunday that Tehran would deliver a "swift, strong and crushing" response to any Israeli military attack on its nuclear sites, which it says are entirely peaceful in nature.
The issue of continuing Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip that have left dozens dead the past two weeks will probably also be discussed.
Mr Olmert said he did not expect any change in Washington's unstinting support for Israel after control of Congress passed from Republican to Democrat.
On Saturday, the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning an Israeli attack in Gaza that killed 18 civilians, including women and children.On Saturday, the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning an Israeli attack in Gaza that killed 18 civilians, including women and children.