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President Bush Meets with Prime Minister Olmert of Israel
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 24, 2008

President Bush Meets with Prime Minister Olmert of Israel Oval Office

˙ /news/releases/2008/11/20081124-3.wm.v.html ˙˙Presidential Remarks
˙˙Audio

˙˙˙˙˙ In Focus: Global Diplomacy

5:40 P.M. EST

PRESIDENT BUSH: I am pleased to welcome my friend, Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert, back to the Oval Office. And I thank you for bringing your wife to
have dinner tonight with Laura and me. I'm looking forward to it.

We've been through a lot together during our time in office. We strongly
believe that Israel will benefit by having a Palestinian state, a democracy
on her border that works for peace. And, Prime Minister, that vision is
alive because of you. And I thank you for your steadfast support for peace.

And it's not easy. It's not easy to try to change the paradigm, and I
understand that. But one thing is for certain -- you've kept your word. And
in international politics, that's important. And I want to thank you for
the friendship, and thank you for your vision. And I just want you to know
that I believe that vision is alive and needs to be worked on.

And again, I welcome you. Appreciate you coming.

PRIME MINISTER OLMERT: Thank you very much, Mr. President. I'm delighted to
have this opportunity to express again the deep gratitude we all have to
you, personally, as a human being, as a friend, as a courageous leader who
has helped Israel so much over the period since you were President of the
United States of America.

I will never forget that you have removed one of the most threatening
strategic dangers from Israel on the east side, in Iraq. And this is a
great achievement that makes life much better for many people in our part
of the world, particularly for us and for our neighbors, as well.

You have set forth in motion the Annapolis process, which I was very proud
to take part in.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, sir.

PRIME MINISTER OLMERT: It continues with your guidance and support and
inspiration. And this is very important, because as you say, a two-state
solution is the only possible way to resolve the conflict in the Middle
East.

So, Mr. President, on behalf of the people of Israel, I want to thank you.
The importance of your leadership is greatly appreciated in our country.
And I'm sure that when the history books will be written, the contributions
that you made to the safety and security of many people will be greatly
appreciated.

Personally, I want to thank you for your friendship on behalf of my wife,
Aliza, and myself. And I'm so happy and proud that I had an opportunity to
speak of it to you before you leave this great place and before I leave my
office. And I'm sure that we will continue our friendship for many years to
come.

Thank you very much.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir. Thank you.

END 5:45 P.M. EST

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