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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his wife, Aliza, arriving in the United States on Sunday. (GPO)
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PM to discuss Iran with Bush during U.S. visit
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: George W. Bush, Ehud Olmert 

WASHINGTON - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and U.S. President George W. Bush will on Wednesday discuss ways of stepping up efforts to thwart Iran's nuclear program before Bush's term in office ends in the coming year. The meeting will be held the day after the Annapolis peace conference.

"This will be the most important meeting" of the prime minister's visit to the United States, said a senior Olmert aide, accompanying him to Annapolis.

In addition to the Iranian nuclear question, the two leaders will discuss other regional issues, including renewing peace talks between Jerusalem and Damascus and bilateral issues between Israel and the U.S.
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The prime minister is concerned by what in Israel appears to be a drop in the U.S.'s determination to take action against Iran; Olmert fears Bush will conclude his term in office and leave the handling of Iran's nuclear program to his successor.

Several months ago, Olmert said he was confident Bush would undertake a final effort in his last year in office, either by military means or intensified sanctions, to stop Iran's nuclear program. However, there are growing voices in the American leadership calling for dialogue with Iran, and senior officials in the administration have reservations about targeting Iran's nuclear installations militarily.

As an expression of his concern, Olmert hardened his line on Iran's nuclear program. He was quoted by Yedioth Ahronoth columnist Nahum Barnea last weekend as saying "it is possible to deal with the Iranian problem by military means, and it is possible to bear the cost that such an operation entails."

Olmert's bureau refused to comment on the statement, but also did not deny it. In discussions behind closed doors, Olmert was quoted as saying that "Iran will not have a nuclear bomb."

Minister for Strategic Threats Avigdor Lieberman said in an interview with Ma'ariv over the weekend that Israel was on the verge of having to make fateful decisions in the coming year, hinting that he was referring to Iran.

Israeli officials said in closed meetings that it would be best if the United States attacked Iran - and not Israel alone.

This is also the tone set in statements by Olmert and other Israeli politicians, who maintain that "Iran is an international, not an Israeli problem."

Israel's official stance, which Olmert reiterates in every public address on Iran's nuclear program, is that there is still time for effective and painful sanctions that will pressure the Iranian public to demand that its rulers alter their plans.

Israeli officials speak of preventing the inflow of refined fuel products and of imposing a naval blockade on Iran.

Aides accompanying Olmert to the U.S. say the U.S. is primarily focused on financial restrictions. They said this effort was bearing fruit.

The U.S. is also taking advantage of the French stance on Iran, where President Nicolas Sarkozy has adopted a forceful position on Tehran.

Olmert's aides said it would be difficult for Bush to rally international support for a military move against Iran, unless he could convincingly show that sanctions were unable to effectively affect Iran's leadership.

The international community now awaits deliberations at the United Nations Security Council, scheduled to take place next month, on expanding the sanctions on Iran. Security Council members will be discussing the two reports on Iran's nuclear program. The first is a report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran's nuclear program and the degree to which Tehran has complied with international inspection teams. So far, Israel and the U.S. have regarded the IAEA's stance on Iran as "soft." The second report is by a team appointed by the Security Council to evaluate the question in all its aspects.

If at least one of the two reports on Iran's nuclear program is negative, Russia and China, two of the five permanent members of the Security Council, promised the United States that they would support additional sanctions against Tehran.

Iran: Summit aim is to help Israel, not Palestinians
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's top authority, said on Monday a U.S.-organised Middle East conference was "doomed to failure" and said it was being held to help Israel not the Palestinians.

The United States wants to restart peace talks on Palestinian statehood by bringing together Arabs and Israelis at a meeting on Tuesday in Annapolis, Maryland. Iran, which does not recognize Israel, has opposed the plan from the outset.

"All politicians in the world are aware that this conference is doomed to failure," Khamenei told a parade of Basij religious militia in an address televised live on state television.

"They hope that in this way [by holding this conference] they can give assistance to the Zionists," he said, referring to Israel.

Khamenei, who has the last say in all matters of state in Iran, had urged Muslim countries to boycott the meeting.

"Arab countries must be aware of the plots and tricks by the Zionist enemy," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a telephone conversation with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah late on Sunday, Iranian state media reported.

"I wish the name of Saudi Arabia was not listed among the attending states at the Annapolis conference," he was quoted as telling the king, whose country will be represented at the talks.

Opposition to Israel is a cornerstone belief for the Islamic Republic. Iran backs Palestinian and Lebanese Islamic militant groups opposed to peace with Israel.

Iranian leaders have called for a referendum among all Palestinians - wherever they now live and whatever their religion or background - to decide on the fate of what is now Israel and the Palestinian areas.

According to media reports, Ahmadinejad had also spoken with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, about the summit over the past few days.

The Iranian news agency, IRNA, reported that Ahmadinejad said Sunday that such meetings and conferences were futile as long as rights of the Palestinian nation were not restored. Participation in the meeting, Ahmadinejad reportedly said, is a sign of political ignorance on the part of some politicians. "Those attending the meeting and giving concessions to the Zionist occupiers will not be remembered in history as having a good reputation," he added.

Ahmadinejad said enemies and opponents of the Iranian nation had made some wrong decisions based on false information and raised charges against Iran. "The time has come for you to be courageous and accept your mistake. The Iranian nation is great and will forgive you," he said.

He said that the main problem with enemies of the Iranian nation was that they were not ready to accept their mistakes. "But I recommend them to correct their mistake bravely because they will not be able to take any concession from the nation," he added.

Related articles:
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  • Bush warns nuclear Iran could spur 'World War III'
  • Haaretz.com TV / Bush repeats: Iran's nuclear program could spark World War III
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      1.   "and they are ready to attack within 45 minutes" 03:23  |  Mahmoud 26/11/07
      2.   The developing nations have condemned israel`s attempts to tar 03:43  |  lakshmi 26/11/07
      3.   Olmert`s biggest problem is Iran is more important... 04:12  |  ManintheMiddle 26/11/07
      4.   Assad believes he can get the Golan Heights back 04:15  |  Joseph E . 26/11/07
      5.   attacking iran will bring catastrophic results but a nuklear iran 04:16  |  Joey 26/11/07
      6.   And exactly what do? 04:44  |  Mark Lincoln 26/11/07
      7.   our ally israel 04:48  |  edgar 26/11/07
      8.   Iran`s Alleged Nukes 04:51  |  Ziggy 26/11/07
      9.   Shame on israel 05:45  |  Amin 26/11/07
      10.   Iran will never start one, never 05:48  |  Amin 26/11/07
      11.   ACTS of WAR 06:01  |  Mark of Lewiston 26/11/07
      12.   #10 Amin - you may be right 06:19  |  * BEN JABO 26/11/07
      13.   First step in stopping Iran`s nuclear weapons program 06:35  |  MichaelF 26/11/07
      14.   Arabs need US and Israel to take down Iran nukes and shia crescen 06:36  |  Joseph E . 26/11/07
      15.   #8 Ziggy 06:40  |  MichaelF 26/11/07
      16.   #9 - Amin 06:44  |  MichaelF 26/11/07
      17.   #10 - Amin 06:46  |  MichaelF 26/11/07
      18.   O Israel 06:50  |  Espart 26/11/07
      19.   Israel should not act on her own 07:54  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/11/07
      20.   # 18 Espart 08:38  |  dan 26/11/07
      21.   Some abject grovelling for a US attack coming from Olmert 09:32  |  Clickfool 26/11/07
      22.   why doesn`t Israel give a signal of peace ? 09:39  |  Gianni 26/11/07
      23.   #19 Well, GOSH, Cipora....... 09:49  |  Johnboy 26/11/07
      24.   I sure will be glad when Iran gets Nukes 10:21  |  spyguy 26/11/07
      25.   #23, manic john turned comedian 10:22  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/11/07
      26.   Gianni 10:30  |  Steve 26/11/07
      27.   #19, Julianna Cipora Kohn 10:35  |  Anton 26/11/07
      28.   Israel will supply the body bags if America supplies the bodies 10:57  |  Natallie Durson 26/11/07
      29.   For Natallie # 25 11:23  |  Clickfool 26/11/07
      30.   It was the Arabs that encouraged Olmert to fight the last war. 11:26  |  Adel 26/11/07
      31.   #28, "Israel is considering a never ending war" 11:42  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/11/07
      32.   #27, Anton 11:58  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/11/07
      33.   #29 12:06  |  Teacher 26/11/07
      34.   NOT FOR A JUST PEACE, BUT TO CONTAIN IRAN 12:10  |  indrajaya 26/11/07
      35.   # 29 Sticks and stones 12:14  |  Natallie Durson 26/11/07
      36.   # 28, NATALLIE DURSON 12:15  |  indrajaya 26/11/07
      37.   For Clickfool: America will not attack Iran 12:43  |  Natallie Durson 26/11/07
      38.   #35, Durson 13:04  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/11/07
      39.   Blaming the Jews for 2000 years 13:32  |  Jonathan S 26/11/07
      40.   "Your threat", Cipora? # 37 13:42  |  Clickfool 26/11/07
      41.   peace or war? 13:44  |  I chose PEACE 26/11/07
      42.   Kohn: Israel has often engaged in terror tactics 13:46  |  Natallie Durson 26/11/07
      43.   For Jonathan S # 39 14:30  |  Clickfool 26/11/07
      44.   Terror regime in Iran is the root problem 14:30  |  Jonathan S 26/11/07
      45.   Iran is the biggest problem these days 15:14  |  Avi 26/11/07
      46.   24 Spyguy...maybe once Iran is threatened with 15:17  |  The Equalizer 26/11/07
      47.   #44 Jonathan 15:20  |  against all wars 26/11/07
      48.   40 Clicky OVER estimates the Iranians because of 15:20  |  The Equalizer 26/11/07
      49.   #22 Gianni - Modena 16:04  |  * BEN JABO 26/11/07
      50.   WHO PAYED FOR ALIZAS JEWELLERY ? 16:15  |  B.Hedem 26/11/07
      51.   to Mark 16:21  |  edgar 26/11/07
      52.   Not whining ClickFOOL, but determination #43 16:22  |  Jonathan S 26/11/07
      53.   have to agree with Spy Guy 16:26  |  Shana 26/11/07
      54.   Israeli Negotiator: "The Americans have NEVER been so HOSTILE" 16:39  |  Linda Rivera 26/11/07
      55.   #32, Cipora Julianna Kohn - Who will be to blame? 16:41  |  Anton 26/11/07
      56.   Against all wars inviting for more wars #47 16:57  |  Jonathan S 26/11/07
      57.   nuke Berlin if Teheran attacks 17:10  |  final solution 26/11/07
      58.   lieberman for president!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 17:19  |  matilda 26/11/07
      59.   " Chief Fiddler has spoken, Doom & Gloom"! 17:21  |  Stephen 26/11/07
      60.   Iran should glow in the dark or, sue them for the US Hostages 17:43  |  Petra 26/11/07
      61.   england 17:46  |  the Teacher 26/11/07
      62.   Berlin 17:52  |  the Teacher 26/11/07
      63.   For The Equalizer # 48 17:55  |  Clickfool 26/11/07
      64.   For Jonathan S again # 52 18:12  |  Clickfool 26/11/07
      65.   #64 Cli8ckfool 18:49  |  Sarah 26/11/07
      66.   Iran is the winner 19:13  |  Arfan 26/11/07
      67.   For ClickFOOL again #64 19:30  |  Jonathan S 26/11/07
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      70.   # Arfan 20:03  |  tbora 26/11/07
      71.   Islamic Republic newspaper in Iran tells Amaddinnerjacket cool it 20:11  |  Michael Korn 26/11/07
      72.   Iran 20:13  |  the Teacher 26/11/07
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