Bush, Olmert meet at White House

For first time since his election, prime minister meets with President Bush in Washington; on the agenda: Iranian threat, collapse of the PA, and convergence plan – which US is expected to refrain from officially endorsing

WASHINGTON - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert arrived at the White House Tuesday evening for his first diplomatic meeting with US President George Bush since his election. During the meeting, the Iranian threat is expected to take center stage, along with terrorism by Islamic radicals, the Palestinian Authority’s straits and the Convergence - Israel's plan to withdraw from parts of the West Bank.

The prime minister's limousine arrived for the meeting at 3 p.m. (Washington Time), after making its short way from the White House's official guesthouse to the main entrance. Olmert and his team – including Cabinet Secretary Israel Maimon, the Prime Minister's Office Chief of Staff Yoram Turbowicz, his deputy Ovad Yehezkel and Media Advisor Assaf Shariv – were welcomed into the White House by the master of ceremony.

The meeting is expected to last an hour and a half, after which the two officials will hold a joint press conference at the White House's western wing. After the press conference, they are expected to have dinner and then meet again face-to-face.

Several pro-Arab protestors were spotted at the entrance to the White House, chanting slogans against the Israeli delegation members.

Earlier Tuesday, Olmert met with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld . During their conference, Olmert defined Hizbullah and Hamas as envoys of the Iranian government, which calls for the destruction of Israel.

The two discussed the way in which the Israeli government was dealing with the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, which it defines as a terror regime.

Although the prime minister hoped to recruit support in America for his convergence plan, he has been concerned by the cold reception the US appears to be giving the plan to unilaterally withdraw from areas in the West Bank. The US has only asked to be elucidated on the plan’s basic foundations, and is cautiously withholding its endorsement of the plan.

On Monday night, Olmert met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and explicated the convergence plan to her, answering her numerous questions on the matter.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3254315,00.html
Olmert-Rumsfeld meeting focuses on terror

Prime minister shares his view with US defense secretary that Islamic fundamentalist terrorism in Mideast fueled by Iran; Hamas, Hizbullah are Iran’s envoys in mission to destroy Israel
Ronny Sofer

WASHINGTON - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert defined Hizbullah and Hamas as envoys of the Iranian government which calls for the destruction of Israel, during a Tuesday meeting with United States Secretary of Defense in Washington. Olmert’s first US visit in the role of prime minister will culminate later Tuesday in a meeting with President George W. Bush.

Olmert and Rumsfeld discussed the way in which the Israeli government was dealing with the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, which it defines as a terror regime. Although the prime minister hoped to recruit support in America for his Convergence plan, he is concerned by the cold reception the US appears to be giving the plan to unilaterally withdraw from areas in the West Bank. The US has only asked to be elucidated on the plan’s basic foundations, and is withholding its endorsement of the plan. Olmert’s entourage, however, appears less concerned with the US response to the Convergence, and more distracted by the marginal coverage the visit is getting in the American media.

Olmert and Rumsfeld also discussed the security threats the two countries face, chief among them terrorism by Muslim radicals. They also reviewed the issue of Iran’s nuclear development program. Israel views the accelerating speed with which the Muslim country is pursing nuclear weapons as extremely worrying, and expects Tehran to be armed sooner than in the US prediction. Additionally, the two discussed continuing strategic cooperation between Israel and the United States.

US mum on convergence

Monday night Olmert explicated Israel’s Convergence plan to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice , and answered her numerous questions on the matter.

Diplomats who accompanied Olmert to Washington expressed hopes that in the press conference this evening, the American president would find a way of expressing his appraisal of the Convergence plan which would allow Olmert to return to Israel having achieved at least some political accomplishment. Olmert’s entourage hoped for something beyond Bush’s expected expression of support for Israel, its struggle against terrorism and its sanctions against the Hamas government.

The Israeli delegation would be pleased to hear such a declaration as, “Israel has the right to establish defendable borders in the absence of a Palestinian partner,” which could give Olmert a green light to start putting the convergence plan into action. With that, they would also be satisfied with a more moderate phrasing, such as, “Israel must assure the safety of its citizens within defendable borders,” – with no mention of a Palestinian partner.

(05.23.06, 18:31)

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