MIDEAST

Olmert condemns rocket attack

Wednesday 14 May 2008

In a speech marking Israel’s 60th anniversary, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday’s rocket attack on a southern Israeli city was “entirely unacceptable”, a sentiment echoed by visiting US President George Bush.

Special Report Israel: 60 years in the making

Wednesday 14 May 2008

By FRANCE 24 with wires

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday’s rocket attack on the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon from the Gaza Strip was “entirely intolerable and unacceptable” and added that Israel “would take the necessary steps" to stop rocket fire, warning the Gaza militants of a possible major offensive.

The missile struck a shopping mall, badly wounding several people, after Bush arrived in Jerusalem.

Addressing an assembly gathered to celebrate Israel’s 60th anniversary, Olmert called US President George W. Bush, the guest of honour at the ceremony, a “great friend of the state of Israel” whose commitment is "immeasurable.”


“As we celebrate Israel’s 60th anniversary, we also commemorate 60 years of friendship between the United States and Israel,” declared Olmert. “Israel is stronger because we look to the future knowing that the United States of America will always remain our strongest ally.”


Addressing the assembly after Olmert, Bush reiterated his support for Israel, declaring, “America stands for peace and so does Israel. And as we stand in peace, we must understand the realities of the world in which we live. We must be steadfast and we must be strong in the face of those who murder the innocent to achieve their objectives,” Bush said in his first comments after the rocket attack from the Gaza Strip.


Improbable peace deal

Bush’s latest Middle East trip, coinciding with Israel’s 60th anniversary celebrations, is also aimed at trying to reinvigorate stalled Israeli-Palestinian talks, revived last November at the Annapolis Conference.

"Our two nations both faced great challenges when they were founded. And our two nations have both relied on the same principles to help us succeed," Bush said upon his arrival. "We built strong democracies to protect the freedoms given to us by an almighty God."

Bush added that the United States must continue to support its "strongest ally and friend in the Middle East, the only true democracy, against the forces of terror”.

Israeli President Shimon Peres of Israel thanked Bush for his steady dedication to the alliance between their two countries.

Olmert said the alliance with the United States was one of “Israel’s pillars of security”. Bush will address the Israeli Parliament on Thursday.

As Israel celebrates, hundreds of Palestinians protested Wednesday in the West Bank and Lebanon, marking the “Nakba” — the “Catastrophe” — the term used by many Arabs for the creation of the Jewish state 60 years ago and the exile of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.

Renewed turmoil

Bush’s tour comes at a time of renewed turmoil in the region. On Wednesday, two Hamas militants and two civilians were killed in Israeli raids in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian sources. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired a   rocket at the Israeli city of Ashkelon.

Bush will aim to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, although expectations are low.

“There is very little chance of achieving anything during the current trip,” said FRANCE 24 correspondent Annette Young. “The Palestinian officials say dismal progress has been made on key issues.”

Bush is not scheduled to visit the Palestinian territories but he will meet with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayad at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. King Abdullah of Jordon, Egypitan President Hosni Mubarak and other leaders will participate in the talks in which the recent sectarian violence in Lebanon and the role played by Tehran will also be discussed.