ANALYSIS / George Bush wants the convergence plan too

://www.haaretz.com ^ | 03:17 24/05/2006 | Aluf Benn

[Esther Ruth]

Last update - 03:17 24/05/2006

ANALYSIS / George Bush wants the convergence plan too

By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent

For Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, there were many good reasons to be satisfied with his first meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush.

In the press conference that followed their first round of talks, Bush warmly adopted Olmert's initiatives for an extensive withdrawal in the West Bank, terming them "bold ideas" that "could be an important step" to peace.

The president also pledged that the United States would hasten to Israel's defense in the event of an attack by Iran, and, no less important to Olmert, stressed the personal relationship between them. Bush even mentioned the private talks the two were to hold in the residential wing of the White House, without the presence of aides, immediately after the press conference.

If we want to, Bush joked, we might even tell them what we talked about.

For his part, Olmert publicly declared his intention to make every effort to hold peace talks with the Palestinians, and even upgraded Abbas from chairman of the Palestinian Authority to its president.

[Esther Ruth]

excerpt-

In anticipation of the visit, Olmert, his cabinet and the White House had all lowered their respective expectations - effectively convincing the media that Bush's support for the convergence plan would be lukewarm, and that Iran would be the central topic of the meeting.

These lowered expectations served as an agreeable backdrop for Bush's supportive statements, fortified by Olmert's allusion to the fact that Bush had been the first world leader to support former prime minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan.

The two men read the statements prepared by their assistants, but Olmert elaborated during the press conference that followed, saying that he hopes to complete the convergence within three to four years. This begs the question of what must have gone through Bush's mind, in light of the fact that he will no longer be president by then.

[SJackson]

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Needless to say the press has it figured out.

Pres. Bush and PM Olmert at White House [Bush: Israel can withdraw but can't set final borders]

Blow for Israel as US refuses to back West Bank withdrawal plan

Bush backs Olmert on pullout plan

ANALYSIS / George Bush wants the convergence plan too

Bush: Olmert's plan could be 'important step' to peace