Bush offers praise but no endorsement to Israel

Also voiced concerns about Iran
Before his White House session with Bush, Olmert also discussed concerns about Iran with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld in a 35-minute meeting at the Pentagon. The United States accuses Iran of secretly seeking nuclear weapons, and Israel fears the anti-Semitic rhetoric of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Olmert will speak to a joint meeting of both chambers of Congress on Wednesday.

Modest expectations for the White House session with Olmert reflected changed circumstances in Israel and the Palestinian territories since 2005, the last time Bush met with an Israeli counterpart. Then, the Israeli leader was former warrior and Bush friend Sharon, whose unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip the administration cheered as a move toward peace.

Weeks after Sharon fell ill, Palestinian President Abbas’ secular Fatah Party was routed by the Islamic militant group Hamas in democratic elections, clouding the prospects for mutually negotiated borders with Israel. The Bush administration immediately cut off aid to a government now led by what it considers a terrorist group.

Abbas remains as president but has uncertain authority. A power struggle has spilled into armed confrontation between Hamas and Fatah security forces in the past week.

Olmert says that without a full Palestinian partner, he must press ahead with a withdrawal plan he says will consolidate Jewish residents and strengthen Israel’s security in the long run.

Resettlement could cost $10 billion
The White House has been unwilling to give a full green light to Olmert while so many questions remain about the scope, cost and consequences of what could be a $10 billion resettlement program.

With the United States and the European Union, Israel is boycotting the Hamas-led Palestinian government. Israel has made some overtures to Abbas, including a meeting last weekend between the Palestinian leader and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Egypt, but Olmert remains skeptical.

Meanwhile, the House voted Tuesday to ban U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority and to bar diplomatic contacts with Hamas.

The chief sponsor of the measure, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., said it would send a message to Hamas that the United States will not support a government run by terrorists.

The Senate is considering a less restrictive bill.

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