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Trip Notes from the Middle East

Trip Notes by Date

January 8

Dana Perino
Assistant to the President and Press Secretary

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January 9

Dana Perino
Assistant to the President and Press Secretary

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January 10

Ed Gillespie
Counselor to the President

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January 11

Ed Gillespie
Counselor to the President

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January 12

Stephen Hadley
Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

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January 13

Bill McGurn
Assistant to the President for Speechwriting

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January 14

Dana Perino
Assistant to the President and Press Secretary

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January 15

Dana Perino
Assistant to the President and Press Secretary

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January 15

Joshua Bolten
White House Chief of Staff

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January 16

George W. Bush
President of the United States

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Resolve in Ramallah

January 10
Ed Gillespie

Ed Gillespie

Counselor to the President

The trip to the Middle East got off to a very positive start with the President having constructive meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert Wednesday evening and earlier today (Thursday) with Palestinian Authority President Abbas. Both men are clearly committed to trying to bring about lasting peace and prosperity for the people they were elected to represent, and they demonstrate the resolve necessary to make the hard decisions that will be necessary to reach a historic accord.

Commitment to Peace

President George W. Bush and President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority share a moment before their joint press availability Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, in Ramallah. White House photo by Eric Draper.
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The trip to the Middle East got off to a very positive start with the President having constructive meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert Wednesday evening and earlier today (Thursday) with Palestinian Authority President Abbas. Both men are clearly committed to trying to bring about lasting peace and prosperity for the people they were elected to represent, and they demonstrate the resolve necessary to make the hard decisions that will be necessary to reach a historic accord.

All this is leavened with the realization that the challenges they face are rooted in centuries of conflict and their disputes have been stubbornly resistant to resolution. But that realization also serves as a reminder that such historic moments are the product not only of circumstances, but of individuals. Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas each seems to see in the other a counterpart with whom he can work in good faith.

President George W. Bush and President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, listen to a reporter’s question Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, during a joint press availability at in Ramallah. White House photo by Chris Greenberg
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And both see in President Bush a leader to whom they can turn for some honest brokering. I’ve seen here, and previously in Annapolis, his easy relationships with both leaders enable him to nudge the peace process along. The chemistry is such that it’s hard not to be overcome with hope and optimism, and those sentiments were on display at the press conference following President Bush’s one-on-one visit with President Abbas earlier today in Ramallah.

President Bush Discusses Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process President Bush Discusses Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process

In Focus: Middle East Middle East Trip

Historic Sites of the Holy Land
President George W. Bush pauses after lighting a candle in the Cave of the Nativity marking the birthplace of Jesus Christ during his visit to the Church of Nativity Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, in Bethlehem. With him is Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Khouloud Daibes, Minister of Tourism. White House photo by Eric Draper
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On a personal level, this is an exciting way for someone to visit the Holy Land for the first time. Our delegation made a visit to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem today. It was incredibly moving to see the site believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, and thinking about the impact on thousands of years of humanity that was begun on this sacred spot.

White House Counsel Ed Gillespie at work on the Mideast Trip Notes Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. White House photo by Eric Draper
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We are staying in Jerusalem, home to sacred shrines of three of the world’s great religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Our schedule doesn’t allow time to take in the surrounding history, but I look forward to the day when I can return as a tourist with my family and can take the time to enjoy this beautiful area.

President Bush Visits Church of the Nativity President Bush Visits Church of the Nativity

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow the President will visit Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Museum) and the Mount of the Beatitudes on the Sea of Galilee before he and his team leave for the next leg of the trip, Kuwait.