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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Bush begins tour of Middle East | Bush begins tour of Middle East |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| US President George W Bush has arrived in Israel to take part in celebrations for the country's 60th anniversary. | US President George W Bush has arrived in Israel to take part in celebrations for the country's 60th anniversary. |
| He also hopes to inject some momentum into the current peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. | He also hopes to inject some momentum into the current peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. |
| On arrival, Mr Bush said Israel and the US were united in democracy, trade and in fighting terror. Israeli people are "our close friends", he added. | |
| Meanwhile, a rocket reportedly fired from Gaza hit a shopping centre in the Israeli city of Ashkelon. | |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who was having talks with President Bush in Jerusalem, said Israel would not tolerate attacks from Gaza militants. | |
| Earlier, Israeli President Shimon Peres said Mr Bush had stood alongside Israel "like nobody else". | |
| Mr Bush has said he believes a full peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians is possible by the time he leaves office in January next year. | |
| Jerusalem conference | Jerusalem conference |
| US president marks 60 years since Israel's foundation | US president marks 60 years since Israel's foundation |
| President Bush arrived 60 years to the day after Israel declared independence. | President Bush arrived 60 years to the day after Israel declared independence. |
| He and First Lady Laura Bush were met at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv by Mr Olmert and Mr Peres. | |
| In welcoming Mr Bush, Mr Peres said in its 60 years Israel had "never postponed democracy for a single day nor lost our desire for peace". | |
| He added: "You stood like nobody else on our side on sunny mornings and in stormy weather." | He added: "You stood like nobody else on our side on sunny mornings and in stormy weather." |
| We consider the Holy Land a very special place and the Israeli people our close friends President George W Bush Troubled tour ahead Mr Bush said both the US and Israel could be proud of their past. | We consider the Holy Land a very special place and the Israeli people our close friends President George W Bush Troubled tour ahead Mr Bush said both the US and Israel could be proud of their past. |
| "We consider the Holy Land a very special place and the Israeli people our close friends," he said. | "We consider the Holy Land a very special place and the Israeli people our close friends," he said. |
| "I look forward to discussing how I believe our two nations can continue to advance our ideals and approach our next 60 years of partnership with confidence and with hope." | "I look forward to discussing how I believe our two nations can continue to advance our ideals and approach our next 60 years of partnership with confidence and with hope." |
| Later on Wednesday, Mr Bush will address a 60th anniversary conference in Jerusalem to be attended by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and ex-US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. | Later on Wednesday, Mr Bush will address a 60th anniversary conference in Jerusalem to be attended by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and ex-US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. |
| Inauspicious moment | Inauspicious moment |
| Mr Bush's five-day trip will also include visits to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. | |
| Mr Olmert has been weakened by allegations of corruption | Mr Olmert has been weakened by allegations of corruption |
| In a BBC interview ahead of his trip, the US president said the current status quo between the Israelis and Palestinians was unacceptable. | |
| He said he would urge the two sides to reach agreement on a future Palestinian state by the end of the year. | He said he would urge the two sides to reach agreement on a future Palestinian state by the end of the year. |
| "The vision of a [Palestinian] state is such a powerful notion and such an important notion for Israel's very existence, that I do believe that we have a chance to get something defined," Mr Bush told reporters on the eve of the trip. | "The vision of a [Palestinian] state is such a powerful notion and such an important notion for Israel's very existence, that I do believe that we have a chance to get something defined," Mr Bush told reporters on the eve of the trip. |
| But BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says with the Palestinians still politically divided and Mr Olmert weakened by allegations of corruption, this is not an auspicious moment for Mr Bush to be trying to make bold steps in the interests of peace. | |
| As Mr Bush arrived, at least four Palestinians were killed in Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian doctors said. | As Mr Bush arrived, at least four Palestinians were killed in Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian doctors said. |