Free Republic

The U.S. State Department has announced that President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have cleared their schedule for early next week in case they need to travel to Israel should Prime Minister Ariel Sharon die. Earlier it was reported that Rice canceled a trip to Indonesia and Australia because of concerns over the condition of critically ill prime minister, said officials informed of the decision on Friday. A U.S. official, who asked for anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the trip plans, said Rice did not "Want to be a long way from Israel...

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice canceled a six-day trip to Indonesia and Australia on Friday, amid uncertainty over the condition of ailing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. "She decided because of the situation in the Middle East, it was the right decision to stay here in Washington," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. Rice had planned to leave Saturday. If Sharon were to die, Rice would probably attend the funeral in Jerusalem, although McCormack did not mention that possibility. US officials have been careful not to publicly predict that Sharon will not return to power. Rice's travel decision is the...

WASHINGTON - American First Lady Laura Bush is planning to visit Israel and other Middle-Eastern countries in the framework of a tour aimed at, among other things, advancing the regional peace process. The six-day tour is expected to begin on May 19, newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth has learned. At the trip’s outset, Bush is slated to deliver a speech in an economic conference in Amman, Jordan, and later continue for short visits to Egypt and Israel.

JERUSALEM (AP) -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger paid tribute Sunday to the millions of Jews killed in the Holocaust and helped dedicate a planned museum of tolerance during a whirlwind visit to Jerusalem. In an emotional speech at the museum site, Schwarzenegger said that in a world of violence and suicide attacks, the museum would stand as a "candle to guide us." "The world should know we are not building a bunker. We're building something that breathes with life, just as God breathed life into us," Schwarzenegger said. "We look past the suicide bombers, the terrorists, past the blood. ......

(IsraelNN.com) Officials in Jerusalem are giving serious thought to extending an invitation to American President George W. Bush who next month will be traveling to Turkey. Israel’s ambassador to Washington reportedly made the suggestion since Mr. Bush will be in the region. Political analysts feel such a visit at this time is most unlikely.