Presidents meet, but Laura is big draw

Laura Bush, the wife of the visiting U.S. president, emerged as one of the main attractions the presidential entourage had to offer to its Israeli hosts. Instead of shaking hands with the ministers at the Ben-Gurion-Airport reception and immediately moving on, she lingered in front of each minister for a brief introductory chat.

This meant the president had to wait until she finished mingling. When the president reached Cabinet Secretary Oved Yehezkel, the latter asked him whether presidents also have to wait for their wives.

"I wanna tell you something," Bush replied and put his hand on Yehezkel's shoulder. "It's only gotten worse since I became president. I keep following her around."

He added: "Tell your wife that I said that a man should always follow his wife anywhere she goes." The president is scheduled to tour Masada today, where he will ride the aerial tram line with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to the top of the ancient fortress. Tomorrow Bush will leave Israel for a visit to Egypt.