Radio Address of President Bush to the Nation

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I'm speaking to you from theMiddle East, where Laura and I are on a trip toIsrael,Saudi Arabia, andEgypt.

When Air Force One touched down at Ben Gurion Airport inTel Aviv, I was greeted byIsrael's President and Prime Minister. I joined them in celebrating an historic milestone:Israel's 60th anniversary as an independent nation. And I assured them thatIsrael could count on America as a strong and steady ally long into the future.

During our visit I had conversations withIsrael's leaders about their efforts to forge peace with the Palestinians, and our shared belief that a peace agreement is possible this year. I also had the opportunity to address members of the Knesset,Israel's elected legislature. I reminded these democratic leaders that America was the first nation in the world to recognizeIsrael's independence. I told them that 60 years later, America is proud to beIsrael's best friend in the world. I reaffirmed the principles that make our alliance strong: a love of liberty, a devotion to justice, and a respect for human dignity. And I said that standing firm on these ideals is the surest way to defeat the extremists and build a future of peace for people throughout theMiddle East.

For Laura and me, this visit toIsrael was an especially moving experience. We toured the Bible Lands Museum, saw the Dead Sea Scrolls, and visited Masada -- an inspiring shrine to Jewish courage and sacrifice in the first century. From the window of our hotel room we had a magnificent view of the Old City of Jerusalem, home to some of the holiest sites in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. And on our final morning in the city we met some ofIsrael's young people, talented and hopeful citizens who gave me confidence inIsrael's future.

On Friday we visited another of America's friends in theMiddle East --Saudi Arabia. I had a series of productive meetings with King Abdullah at his farm. We celebrated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations betweenthe United States andSaudi Arabia. We reaffirmed our shared objectives of peace in the Holy Land, a secure and unitedIraq and a sovereign, independentLebanon that is free of outside interference. We talked about oil production and gasoline prices. We discussed the King's efforts to diversify his nation's economy, and the importance of political reform. And I thanked him forSaudi Arabia's strong commitment to fighting terror.

Our final stop isEgypt, where we are visiting the beautiful resort city of Sharm el Sheikh. I am meeting with a number of key leaders from the region, including President Mubarak ofEgypt, President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, King Abdullah ofJordan, President Karzai ofAfghanistan, Prime Minister Gilani ofPakistan, and several senior officials fromIraq's democracy.

I will also address the World Economic Forum in theMiddle East. I will stress the importance of building dynamic and diverse economies that unleash the creativity and enterprise of citizens throughout the region -- especially women and young people. I will make clear that the only way to ensure true prosperity is to expand political and economic freedom. And I will urge leaders across the region to reject spoilers such as the regimes inIran andSyria, move past old grievances and embrace the changes necessary for a day when societies across theMiddle East are based on justice, tolerance, and freedom.

Reaching that day will not be easy. But with continued leadership from America and our friends in the region, I am confident that it can happen. And when that day arrives, theMiddle East will be more hopeful, the world will be more peaceful, and the American people will be more secure.

Thank you for listening.

END

SOURCE White House Press Office

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