Jerusalem - US President George W Bush was wrapping up a 48- hour visit to Israel Friday by visiting a Biblical history museum and meeting Israeli youth in Jerusalem. He takes off before noon for Riyadh, for the second lag of his Middle East tour, meeting Saudi King Abdullah on the 75th anniversary of the formal establishment of US-Saudi relations, and focussing also on soaring oil prices.
Bush is to head for Sharm el-Sheik on Saturday, for two days of talks with other key Arab leaders attending an economic forum in the Egyptian Red Sea resort, including Iraqi Vice President Adil Abd al- Mahdi and Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih, and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora.
Unlike during his first visit to Israel as president in January, Bush did not make a stop-over in Ramallah this time.
Instead, he is to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Acting Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in Sharm el-Sheikh Saturday and Sunday, to be briefed by the Palestinian side on the difficult negotiations they are conducting with Israel, with the stated aim of obtaining an agreement before Bush leaves office in January 2009.
In an historic address to the Israeli parliament Thursday, marking 60 years since the country declared statehood, Bush reaffirmed the US' "unbreakable" alliance with Israel.
"America is proud to be Israel's closest ally and best friend in the world," he told the Knesset. Bush also spoke out against negotiating with radical militant groups, including Hamas, and against "appeasing" Iran in its alleged efforts to obtain nuclear arms.
"Israel's population may be just over 7 million. But when you confront terror and evil, you are 307 million strong, because America stands with you," he said to loud applause and cheering.
