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PMO: U.S., Israel see need for 'tangible action' on Iran nukes
By Barak Ravid and Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondents and Haaretz Service
Tags: Iran, nuclear weapons 

The United States and Israel agree on the need for "tangible action" to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's spokesman said Friday, after a visit by U.S. President George W. Bush.

"We are on the same page. We both see the threat ... And we both understand that tangible action is required to prevent the Iranians from moving forward on a nuclear weapon," Olmert spokesman Mark Regev said.

Regev described diplomatic efforts so far to exert pressure on Iran as "positive", but added: "It is clearly not sufficient and it's clear that additional steps will have to be taken".
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Asked about the option of using military force, Regev said: "Leaders of many countries have talked about many options being on the table and, of course, Israel agrees with that."

Senior officials in Jerusalem said Thursday that Israel is fully satisfied with the results of Bush's visit, including policy on Iran's nuclear program.

"In talks with the president of the United States during his visit it was made clear that Bush's statements on the subject of Iran's nuclear program are fully backed in practice," a senior official said.

The president's attitude on Iran was well known in Israel, and the expectation had been that he would use forceful language against Tehran, both during talks with Israeli officials and in his address to the Knesset, not only on the nuclear question but on Iran's role in the region.

During meetings with Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, more data was presented to back the desire for a reassessment of an American intelligence report which concluded that Iran had halted its nuclear weapons program.

One Israeli source said that it is hoped that the new information would influence the administration's stance on Iran's nuclear program.

The source said that Olmert would discuss the subject during his visit to Washington in two weeks.

President Bush ended his three-day visit to Israel on Friday and headed for Saudi Arabia.

The president and First Lady Laura Bush flew out of Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion Airport after a morning at Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem, where they viewed artifacts from the time of biblical writings and spoke with young Israelis about hopes for peace.


Bush: Masada shall never fall again

In his address to the Knesset on Thursday, Bush promised unflinching U.S. support. "Citizens of Israel, Masada shall never fall again, and America will always stand with you," he said.

Bush added that calls for negotiations with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are akin to the efforts to appease Hitler before World War II.

The president opened his speech by saying in Hebrew: "Happy Independence Day." His address focused on the alliance between the U.S. and Israel.

"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," Bush said.

"You have raised a modern society in the Promised Land, a light unto the nations that preserves the legacy of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And you have built a mighty democracy that will endure forever and can always count on America to stand at its side."

He noted that Israel's Declaration of Independence "was the redemption of an ancient promise given to Abraham, Moses, and David - a homeland for the chosen people in Eretz Yisrael."

The president also presented his vision of Israel in the next 60 years. "Israel will be celebrating its 120th anniversary as one of the world's great democracies, a secure and flourishing homeland for the Jewish people."

His address was interrupted no less than 14 times by loud applause.

"America stands with you in breaking up terrorist networks and denying the extremists sanctuary. And America stands with you in firmly opposing Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions. Permitting the world's leading sponsor of terror to possess the world's deadliest weapon would be an unforgivable betrayal of future generations. For the sake of peace, the world must not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon," the president said.

Bush accused Ahmadinejad of seeking to return the Middle East to the Middle Ages by calling for the destruction of Israel.

"Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along," he said. "We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: 'Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.' We have an obligation to call this what it is ¬ the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history."

After the speech made by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the Knesset in March, it was hard to expect a more pro-Zionist speech. But as a former Knesset speaker, MK Reuven Rivlin, put it Thursday, "I wish our leaders would make speeches like this." Rivlin described Bush as "manifesting the Zionist vision."

Contrary to the applause Bush received for his address, the speech by Prime Minister Olmert was less popular and stirred considerable controversy.

Olmert promised that when there is a peace agreement it "will be approved by a large majority in the Knesset and it will be supported by the vast majority of the Israeli public."

Two MKs from the National Union, Zvi Hendel and Uri Ariel, left the plenum in protest, complaining that the event was "used to promote a political agenda that is opposed by most of the Israeli public."

Hendel issued a statement calling on Olmert "to learn from the president of the United States what Zionism is."

MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) called out during Olmert's speech, "in your dreams."

He later proposed that Bush should replace Olmert.

Throughout the exchanges amount the rival Israeli politicians, President Bush appeared to be enjoying himself. When Knesset speaker Dalia Itzik finished her speech, he offered his hand in a "give me five" kind of love.

Olmert diverged from his speech and said that "we will bring before the Knesset an agreement that is based on the vision of two states for two peoples. This agreement will be approved by a large majority in the Knesset and the entire nation."

On Iran, Olmert said that "the seriousness of the threat demands that no means be discounted." However, he made it clear that "a uniform international political and economic front against Iran is currently in place, and tougher and more effective sanctions are a necessary stage, even if it is not the final stage, on the right way to block the Iranian threat."

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      1.   i beat nuttie durston by posting before her!now,irans time is 01:34  |  number one! 16/05/08
      2.   The good news is he is leaving, so it might happen 01:45  |  Mark B. 16/05/08
      3.   The good news is he is leaving, so it might happen 01:45  |  Mark B. 16/05/08
      4.   Bush is all talk on Iran and Israel 02:03  |  Wendy 16/05/08
      5.   Iran is sitting on a bomb of its own making 02:17  |  K 16/05/08
      6.   Bush is an idiot moron!! childish IQ 02:35  |  Moise 16/05/08
      7.   Yes he does!!! And he is no lame duck when it comes to Israel. 02:44  |  He has the support 16/05/08
      8.   Bush knows how to play the game 03:24  |  Wendy 16/05/08
      9.   Just think of the advantages 03:54  |  Mark Lincoln 16/05/08
      10.   Bush and Truman 03:57  |  Peter 16/05/08
      11.   bush and iran and israel 04:02  |  Sagoronhiotane 16/05/08
      12.   Ha Ha! Totally undermines any efforts in Saudi Arabia or Egypt 04:05  |  Funny Man 16/05/08
      13.   Bush`s promises are like writing checks without funds 04:10  |  Aounist 16/05/08
      14.   No war for Israel 04:18  |  Ben 16/05/08
      15.   "Bush`s statements on the subject of Iran`s nuclear program are 04:31  |  Joseph . E 16/05/08
      16.   Bush`s speech 05:13  |  Hans 16/05/08
      17.   Aounist - so what is new 06:16  |  Mark Lincoln 16/05/08
      18.   No war for Israel? 06:21  |  Mark Lincoln 16/05/08
      19.   Not funny 06:23  |  Gregor 16/05/08
      20.   Lame Duck President. He is Meaningless 07:01  |  *BEN JABO 16/05/08
      21.   Bush is a big loser 07:06  |  Pierre 16/05/08
      22.   Bush`s support at an all time low in America 07:11  |  Natallie Durson 16/05/08
      23.   Good news, bad news 07:17  |  Shimon Cleopas 16/05/08
      24.   Did Bush ask the 300 million? 07:27  |  Joe 16/05/08
      25.   Negative and positive criticism, the difference 07:35  |  redmike 16/05/08
      26.   Delenda Iran est 07:49  |  Cato 16/05/08
      27.   It`s our Christian duty! 07:52  |  George 16/05/08
      28.   Iran, the biggest danger to the Middle East and to the world. 07:53  |  Jean Van Daem 16/05/08
      29.   terrorists meating 08:09  |  petr vojta 16/05/08
      30.   The world`s best-known 08:39  |  Dav 16/05/08
      31.   ISRAEL WILL PROVIDE ANOTHER 4000 BODY BAGS 09:12  |  indrajaya 16/05/08
      32.   Pssst...want to hear a new lie? Go on..it`s a good one 09:17  |  Clickfool 16/05/08
      33.   Appeasement is simply unacceptable when it comes to Iran! 09:19  |  Dan 16/05/08
      34.   Jean van Daem cuts and pastes the propaganda again # 25 09:36  |  Clickfool 16/05/08
      35.   Setting aside the fact 09:37  |  Mats 16/05/08
      36.   For Cato # 24 09:42  |  Clickfool 16/05/08
      37.   Bush: Arrogant, Shameful & A Disgrace 09:46  |  D. 16/05/08
      38.   OT: Adelson`s comb-over 09:47  |  Clickfool 16/05/08
      39.   Durson, polls, Bush, Iran, nuclear destruction 10:04  |  Joe Sittizen 16/05/08
      40.   Clickfool # 31. 10:23  |  David Nigel Braham 16/05/08
      41.   Bush 10:27  |  david 16/05/08
      42.   Taking out Iran`s nukes 10:48  |  Elizabeth Weir 16/05/08
      43.   SOME QUESTIONS ... 11:00  |  PADDY 16/05/08
      44.   Iran 11:03  |  Jo M 16/05/08
      45.   U.S. could strike Iran this year 11:13  |  Natallie Durson 16/05/08
      46.   Soon irans dictatorship, mullahs will be gone from this world 11:14  |  Johnny 16/05/08
      47.   #32 Dan? 11:17  |  Vinegar Hill. 16/05/08
      48.   WHO IS NEXT AFTER IRAN ? 11:18  |  Atilla KARAGÖZOĞLU 16/05/08
      49.   THE U.S. HAS HIS OWN CHARACTER TOO. DONT TAKE HER THAT EASY. 11:26  |  Atilla KARAGÖZOĞLU 16/05/08
      50.   Clickfoot, psssh 11:26  |  Lev 16/05/08
      51.   Reason to be worried about the Jewish community in the U.S. 11:29  |  Swiss (Dino) 16/05/08
      52.   US can`t and won`t hit Iran this year. Neither will Israel. 11:36  |  Michael 16/05/08
      53.   One good thing I suppose 12:14  |  Chris Linthwaite 16/05/08
      54.   MICHAEL 43 12:26  |  mike 16/05/08
      55.   Dan, 32, thank you for your observation about appeasement. 12:27  |  Deb 16/05/08
      56.   You want Bush? You can have him 12:34  |  Greg Bacon 16/05/08
      57.   Only tanks invading were us in Iraq and Israel in Leb 12:42  |  Tupac 16/05/08
      58.   HAARETZ CORRECTION 12:50  |  Clickfool 16/05/08
      59.   With a dead duck President like Bush? 12:52  |  Clickfool 16/05/08
      60.   USA attacking Iran is the death knell of Americas Might 13:00  |  Yossi Cronenberg 16/05/08
      61.   To Herr Swiss 13:10  |  Dr D 16/05/08
      62.   AGAIN... LIKE PUPPIES.... 13:11  |  DAVID 16/05/08
      63.   Bush is going to ride off into the sunset soon 13:20  |  Mike 16/05/08
      64.   Bush has perveted the term democracy 13:22  |  Nick Ferriman 16/05/08
      65.   what`s the matter with some of you 13:26  |  jay 16/05/08
      66.   How dare Bush & Israel dictate to Iran .... 13:29  |  Dutch 16/05/08
      67.   When a BRAINLESS man is in charge of a superpower = disaster 13:31  |  Jean-Marc 16/05/08
      68.