Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., May 16, 2008 Iyyar 11, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:07 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Bush: Hezbollah, Hamas, Al-Qaida are all the same By Yair Ettinger U.S. President George Bush said during a closed working meeting between the American and Israeli teams that there is no difference between Hamas, Hezbollah and Al-Qaida. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and her U.S. counterpart Condoleezza Rice also took part in the meeting, held at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, which focused on the latest developments in Syria, Lebanon, Iran and the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Bush said that Bashar Assad will have to decide where he is headed but expressed doubt that the Syrian president will decide to break with Iran. He warned that progress will be impossible unless the Syrians change tack. In reference to Lebanon, President Shimon Peres said that the meaning of a Hezbollah takeover of that country would be an Iranian Lebanon as Israel's neighbor, which Israel would not be able to accept. Prior to the closed meeting, Peres and Bush addressed each other on camera. Peres spoke about the efforts of "very extremist groups" to counter moderate regimes in the Middle East, singling out Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. "Hamas is delaying the establishment of a Palestinian state," Peres told Bush. "I think that you and the secretary of state have invested so much effort in helping the Palestinians to correct the historic mistake of 1947, because if they had accepted the Arab state we would not have so many problems, but we can fix the past. Today the real obstacle, when I consider everything else before creation of the ... declaration of a Palestinian state, is Hamas." Bush vowed continued American support for Israel: "The objective of the United States must be, on the one hand, to support our strongest ally and friend in the Middle East, against the forces of terror you've just described, while at the same time to talk about a hopeful future." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Animated massacre Animated Israeli film at Cannes explores Sabra and Shatila massacre. Kowtowing to funders When papers are sponsored, can their reporting be truly independent?

Read & React Barak: It won't be long before Israel stops rocket fire Responses: 123 Bush: We must be firm in face of those who murder innocents Responses: 116 Israel dismayed over allies' burgeoning trade with Iran Responses: 96 MI Chief: Rockets could reach Be'er Sheva within two years Responses: 72 Abbas: It's time to end the Nakba of the Palestinian people Responses: 95 More Headlines 22:54 Driver: I personally handed Olmert envelopes stuffed with cash 01:27 Israel: Bush means business on Iran nukes 02:39 ANALYSIS: Who wants to stop Iran? 02:57 ANALYSIS: Was Bush's Knesset speech a swipe at Obama? 22:16 Qassam rocket strikes Sderot synagogue; no one hurt 02:35 Israel protests UN chief Ban Ki-Moon's use of term 'nakba' 20:39 Philly Jewish paper accused of kowtowing to its funders 16:53 Israeli film at Cannes explores 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre 20:09 Bush to Knesset: U.S. stands with Israel, Masada will not fall again 16:45 Hezbollah declares crisis over after Lebanon gov't climb-down 18:19 Reuters demands explanation from Israel for death of cameramen 18:57 Obama says Bush politically attacked him in Knesset address Previous Editions Select Day 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may 02 may

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