Bush arrives in Israel to celebrate its 60th anniversary

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U.S. President George W. Bush and Israeli President Shimon Peres. Photo: EFE

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• George Bush visits Israel to mark its 60th anniversary of nationhood

U.S. President George W. Bush arrived in the Middle East on Wednesday to celebrate Israel's 60th birthday and try to energise peace efforts complicated by a corruption scandal that could topple Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Meeting Israeli President Shimon Peres, Bush said Washington "would continue to work toward a vision of where people who are just and reasonable and want a chance to live at peace with Israel have that opportunity".

He said that, at the same time, the United States would "speak clearly about those forces of terror who murder innocent people to achieve their political objectives, and how the world must stand against them".

Bush faces serious doubt that he can secure a deal between Israel and the Palestinians before leaving office in January.

In the latest setback, Olmert has been hit by calls to resign over suspicions that he took bribes from a wealthy U.S. businessman. Although he has denied wrongdoing, he has pledged to resign if indicted.

Bush will not visit the Palestinian territories during his three-day visit to mark the 60th anniversary of Israel's foundation but planned to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Egypt on Saturday.

Palestinians are marking their "Nakba", or "catastrophe" this week. The Nakba refers to the 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes in 1948.

Bush planned to meet Olmert later in the day for talks expected to include discussion of Iran's nuclear programme, which Israel views as a threat to its existence. Tehran says it wants nuclear technology only to generate electricity.

In remarks coinciding with Bush's Middle East visit, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Israel was "dying" and that people in the region would destroy it, given the chance.