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U.S. President George W. Bush. (Reuters Archives)
Last update - 08:06 06/01/2008
Bush: We'd defend Israel in event of Iranian strike
By Reuters
Tags: Israel, George W. Bush 

An Iranian attack on Israel isn't imminent, but the U.S. would defend its ally in such an event, U.S. President George Bush said in an interview with Channel 2 Television broadcast Saturday, days before he is slated to begin a Mideast visit.

A recent U.S. intelligence report positing that Iran suspended its nuclear weapons program in 2003 did not mean that Iran no longer poses a danger, because Iran can restart the program or use its civilian nuclear program for military purposes, Bush said.

Iran's president, Mahmoud Amadinejad, has said Israel should be wiped off the map, and Israel sees Iran's nuclear program as an existential threat.
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"If I were an Israeli, I would take the words of the Iranian president seriously, and as president of the United States I take them seriously," Bush said.

"Whether there's an imminent attack coming, I don't think so," Bush said.

"If Iran did strike Israel," Bush said, "We will defend our ally, no ands, ifs or buts."

Bush is scheduled to begin his upcoming Mideast trip in Israel on Wednesday and will also visit the West Bank, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. There has been speculation that he will also visit Lebanon and Iraq, but the White House has not confirmed that.

Peres: Bush visit could mark start of actions in peace process

President Shimon Peres said Saturday that Bush's visit, his first presidential trip to Israel and the West Bank, could spur efforts to reach an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement before the U.S. leader leaves office in January 2009.

"I think this trio [Bush, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas] has a chance, and if it moves now to the realm of action, it's very possible Bush's visit will herald the passage from talk to action," Peres told Channel Two television in an interview in Jerusalem.

Peres defined action as negotiations on core issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, security moves by Abbas to rein in militants in the occupied West Bank and a swift influx of economic aid that would strengthen the Fatah leader.

Olmert and Abbas agreed at a conference in Annapolis, Maryland, in November to try to forge a deal on Palestinian statehood by the end of 2008.

Hamas: Bush is not welcome in Middle East

Hamas on Saturday, however, dismissed Bush's upcoming visit to the Middle East as a "photo opportunity" and said he was not welcome in the region.

Hamas, which seized control of the Gaza Strip in June and opposes Abbas' bid to make peace with Israel, said Bush's visit was aimed at shoring up support for Israel.

"Bush's visit is unwelcome because it aims to serve the occupation and provide it with political and psychological support," Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement. "The visit is nothing but a farewell visit to get some photo opportunities as Bush prepares to leave the White House."

Israel and its Western allies are trying to bolster Abbas against his Hamas rivals and have shunned the Islamist group for refusing to renounce violence and recognize Israel.

Abu Zuhri said Bush's visit was meant to fuel internal Palestinian divisions, and said the president's policies were "completely biased" in favor of Israel.

Hamas seized control of Gaza after routing Abbas's Fatah forces in June, prompting Abbas to sack a Hamas-led government and appoint a new administration led by Western-educated Salam Fayyad, paving the way for U.S. talks with Israel.

Fayyad told a Palestinian radio station on Saturday Palestinians would press Bush on Israel's settlement activity - an issue that has already soured talks and which Bush this week called "an impediment" to peace efforts.

Talks launched at Annapolis have faltered since Israel announced plans to build hundreds of new homes in East Jerusalem and the West Bank - a move the Palestinians say contravenes its obligations under a 2003 U.S. peace "road map".

For its part, Israel says the Palestinians have failed to meet their own road map commitments on reining in militants.

Related articles:
  • U.S. President George Bush is likely to visit Israel again in May
  • Bush: Settlement expansion 'impediment' to peace
  • Bush changes itinerary of Israel trip to fit in visit to Capernaum
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      1.   Bush should take a drive in W Bank through the barriers 16:07  |  American 05/01/08
      2.   #1 - Barriers 16:55  |  Mike 05/01/08
      3.   American ...the only thing declining is your 17:05  |  Lynn 05/01/08
      4.   #1 which tax dollars are they yank? 17:08  |  victor hardman 05/01/08
      5.   The criminal from the white house shouldn`t be allowed to set 17:51  |  lakshmi 05/01/08
      6.   Hamas`s definition of "occupation" 18:42  |  Sam 05/01/08
      7.   Poor HAM ASS, forcing us to recognized their 19:09  |  Cristo 05/01/08
      8.   He`s right. The USA does support Israel`s occupation of Non-Jews. 19:09  |  POP 05/01/08
      9.   to lakshmi 19:11  |  Ababbs 05/01/08
      10.   BUSH SHOULD SLEEP AT SDEROT 19:27  |  BOB KING THE ZIONIST 05/01/08
      11.   When Barack Obama is coming to Palestine ? 19:33  |  Serenity 05/01/08
      12.   #1 The Wall is Pal reaping seeds sewn 19:39  |  The Barber 05/01/08
      13.   Bush talks through 2 mouths, and a paper *ss 19:44  |  The Barber 05/01/08
      14.   8 abbabs,disappointed that the quisling is no longer as popular 19:51  |  lakshmi 05/01/08
      15.   TOOO LATE FOR TWO STATE 20:17  |  Jadd 05/01/08
      16.   #4 VictorPaul Harrisman out of touch again 20:25  |  Labhras 05/01/08
      17.   No normal nation would tolerate Peres,Mother of all Disasters at 20:26  |  Absolute Sweden 05/01/08
      18.   Evidence of Hamas fanaticism but it doesn`t matter anyway 20:35  |  Chick 05/01/08
      19.   victor hardman #4 20:38  |  george 05/01/08
      20.   USA using economic blackmail 21:24  |  John Fellows 05/01/08
      21.   To John Fellows 22:32  |  Serenity 05/01/08
      22.   Gaza the only democratic Arab land 22:47  |  Serenity 05/01/08
      23.   #1 - interesting how you call the US an "empire" 22:50  |  Steve 05/01/08
      24.   Israel & the US plotting an excuse to attack Iran 23:08  |  zionist forever 05/01/08
      25.   Bush the "problem solver" 23:25  |  Larry54 05/01/08
      26.   would defend 23:44  |  Shmuelshachor 05/01/08
      27.   Last time US promised Israel the same was in 1958... 23:46  |  Nannette 05/01/08
      28.   I don`t think this would be true if Israel was first to strike. 23:57  |  Virginia 05/01/08
      29.   WHY SHOULD HE GO TO WB 23:58  |  TOBIA 05/01/08
      30.   It was bound to happen sooner or later ... 00:08  |  Morris Valentine 06/01/08
      31.   Reasonable people do not believe in peaceful solution... 00:08  |  Misha 06/01/08
      32.   Bush would defend Israel but ... 00:08  |  Frank 06/01/08
      33.   The best solution 00:14  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/01/08
      34.   2,3,4,12,23. no more jewsish influence on us foreign policy 00:19  |  american 06/01/08
      35.   To Tobia 00:20  |  Markus 06/01/08
      36.   # 17, and that`s because Peres too, like Bush is leading the 00:32  |  Israeli People, 06/01/08
      37.   American 00:38  |  rich 06/01/08
      38.   why should the US 00:41  |  nathan 06/01/08
      39.   Iran 00:42  |  Lynn 06/01/08
      40.   Iran - Pure Evil. Destroy its Weaponry Now. 00:42  |  Solon 06/01/08
      41.   Knesset has already declared Gaza as "enemy entity" 00:51  |  avigdor 06/01/08
      42.   #22--Gaza IS the Arab world`s only democracy 00:53  |  Martin 06/01/08
      43.   The real reasons behind Israel-bashing by POP, Clickfool and Co. 00:53  |  Marwan مروان خوري 06/01/08
      44.   #24--a Purim surprise?? 00:57  |  Modechai Hayehudi 06/01/08
      45.   Bush should 00:57  |  Mansfield 06/01/08
      46.   Thankfully, Bush`s days are almost done... 01:18  |  POP 06/01/08
      47.   #22...Serenity from France 01:22  |  Nemesis 06/01/08
      48.   These quotes are two months old. Why is this news? 01:28  |  POP 06/01/08
      49.   I just don`t understand how Pres. Bush does not hear this same 01:33  |  desire fm Pal leader 06/01/08
      50.   Hamas Is Completely Irrelevant 01:35  |  Bill Foonman 06/01/08
      51.   Hamas/Gaza 01:37  |  Al 06/01/08
      52.   Islam and treatment of women 01:39  |  Johnny 06/01/08
      53.   I agree Zionist Forever 01:47  |  PersianProud 06/01/08
      54.   Nathan @ 30, Think REAL HARD about your own question. 01:54  |  Virginia 06/01/08
      55.   does he know if his left hand 01:56  |  Sam (UK) 06/01/08
      56.   Never gonna happen 02:01  |  robert carrington 06/01/08
      57.   H-bomb day is soon 02:02  |  hell_to_enemy 06/01/08
      58.   To #1 & 12 02:04  |  Mickey 06/01/08
      59.   #44 Turning the table around--witchcraft 02:08  |  UN 06/01/08
      60.   #11 02:09  |  Mickey 06/01/08
      61.   Don’t worry, Israel: we will protect you ?? 02:12  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 06/01/08
      62.   Nathan; #31, I guess you were talking about 02:22  |  Doc Holliday 06/01/08
      63.   To pop, lakshmi, and the other jihadists. 02:22  |  dan 06/01/08
      64.   #5 Lakshmi - Bush is doing his sworn duty 02:34  |  * BEN JABO 06/01/08
      65.   #8 POP goes the weasel 02:35  |  * BEN JABO 06/01/08
      66.   #56 Dan ca, usa 02:39  |  * BEN JABO 06/01/08
      67.   POP, American, lakshmi, and all the other pumpkin heads 02:41  |  Nechama 06/01/08
      68.   #56 UN - your beliefs are contrary to facts 02:43  |  * BEN JABO 06/01/08
      69.   #43 POP goes the weasel again 02:45  |  * BEN JABO 06/01/08
      70.   Hamas says......