News Analysis: Olmert's Washington tour exposes US-Israel differences
June 4th, 2008
WASHINGTON, June 4 (Xinhua) — U.S. President GeorgeW. Bush met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at the White House Wednesdayupon the latter is being forced by domestic political rivals to resign overgraft allegations.
The summit meeting, which occurred at a time whenU.S. officials acknowledged the uncertainty about Olmert’s future, demonstrates,among others, the Israeli premier’s determination to rebuff calls that he mustleave office over allegations that he took envelopes stuffed with cash from aJewish-American businessman.
Apart from the show of Olmert’s determination toremain in office, Bush’s latest meeting with the Israeli prime minister, which,the White House claimed, was not scheduled days before its occurrence, is alsoseen as sending a message that Washington remains expecting Olmert to hold onbefore the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks makes any possible progress beforeBush leaves the White House in January 2008.
It has been noticed that while Olmert, 62, is facinga chorus at home for resignation because of political scandals, Bush called theIsraeli premier an “honest man”, and welcomed him to be back to Washington.
However, Bush’s affirmation about Olmert’spersonality does not cover up an emerging difference between the two. Inresponse to questions about the unprecedented political pressure against Olmert,White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said on Tuesday that President Bush isfocusing on “the big picture” — the Middle East peace process rather than theembattled Olmert’s future.
“Our focus hasn’t been on that, I know that there hasbeen a lot of attention, especially in the Israeli press and some internationalpress, about Israeli politics,” Perino said of Olmert’s difficult situation.
“But President Bush has to keep his focus on the bigpicture, and so he is not spending a lot of time worried about that, he isfocused on how do we get the Palestinian state defined before the end of theyear,” She noted.
Local mass media quoted an unidentified Israeliofficial as reporting that the White House “was certain” last week that Olmertwould not visit Washington due to political charges against him.
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