President George W. Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met in Washington, D.C., to discuss a variety of issues, including Iran's nuclear program. Following the meeting, Mr. Olmert commented on Iran's efforts to acquire nuclear weapons:
"The Iranian regime, which calls for Israel's destruction, openly denies the Holocaust, and views the United States as its enemy, makes every effort to implement its fundamentalist religious ideology and blatantly disregards the demands of the international community. The Iranian threat is not only a threat to Israel, it is a threat to the stability of the Middle East and the entire world. And it could mark the beginning of a dangerous and irresponsible arms race in the Middle East. . . .The international community cannot tolerate a situation where a regime with a radical ideology and a long tradition of irresponsible conduct becomes a nuclear weapons state."
President Bush said the United States and other countries share Israel's concerns about Iran's nuclear program:
"The United States and the international community have made our common position clear: We're determined that the Iranian regime must not gain nuclear weapons. I told the Prime Minister what I've stated publicly before: Israel is a close friend and ally of the United States, and in the event of any attack on Israel, the United States will come to Israel's aid. The United States is strongly committed, and I'm strongly committed, to the security of Israel as a vibrant, Jewish state."
President Bush said that he and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert "reaffirmed the deep and abiding ties between Israel and the United States," including the commitment both countries have to democracy.
The preceding was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government.
