The White House has distributed the links to various speeches, photos, videos, and reports documenting President Bush’s support of Israel and Jewish communities throughout the world, together with this quotation from his Address to the Knesset last May:
“The alliance between our governments is unbreakable, yet the source of our friendship runs deeper than any treaty. It is grounded in the shared spirit of our people, the bonds of the Book, the ties of the soul.”
Below is text of the White House summary, which will be useful to historians evaluating his presidency, once the current meme recedes, in dispelling the urban myth that he was “disengaged” from the process.
Strong Support for U.S.-Israel Relationship
Over the course of the past eight years, strengthening the U.S.–Israel relationship has been a top priority for President Bush. He has met with the Israeli Prime Minister on twenty separate occasions. Below you will find links to remarks, pictures, and video of each of these meetings.
Meetings with Israeli Prime Ministers
Prime Minister Sharon
3/20/01 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/03/20010320-3.html
6/26/01 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/06/20010626-12.html
12/2/01 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/12/20011202-2.html
2/7/02 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/02/20020207-15.html
5/7/02 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/05/20020507-12.html
6/10/02 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/06/20020610-1.html
10/16/02 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021016-13.html
6/4/03 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/06/20030604-1.html
7/29/03 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/07/20030729-2.html
4/14/04 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/04/20040414-4.html
4/11/05 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/04/20050411-2.html
9/14/05 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/06/20030604-1.html
Prime Minister Olmert
5/23/06 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060523-9.html
11/13/06 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/11/20061113-3.html
6/19/07 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/06/20070619.html
11/26/07 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/11/20071126-3.html
1/09/08 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080109-4.html
5/14/08 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080514-4.html
6/04/08 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080604-1.html
11/24/08 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/11/20081124-3.html
Visits to the State of Israel
President Bush also visited the State of Israel twice during his Administration. Below you will find links to remarks, pictures, and video of different highlights from these trips.
President Bush visits Yad Vashem
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080111.html
President Bush tours Masada
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/images/20080515-1_p051508sc-0654-515h.html
President Bush Addresses Members of the Knesset and Honors 60th Anniversary of the State of Israel
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080515-1.html
President Bush Visits Bible Lands Museum and Participates in Roundtable with Israeli Youth
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080516-11.html
Friend of the Jewish Community
President Bush Celebrates Hanukkah
President Bush was the first President to host an annual Menorah Lighting Ceremony and Hannukah Reception at the White House for American Jewish leaders. Below you will find links to remarks, pictures, and video from each of these Menorah Lighting Ceremonies.
2001 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/12/20011210-7.html
2002 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021204-15.html
2003 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/12/20031222-3.html
2004 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/12/20041209-16.html
2005 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/12/20051206-4.html
2006 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/12/20061218-13.html
2007 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/12/20071210-3.html
2008 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/12/20081215-5.html
President’s Remarks at National Dinner Celebrating 350 Years of Jewish Life in America
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050914-24.html
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/09/images/20050914-24_p091405pm-0108jpg-515h.html
Solid Record on Confronting Anti-Semitism
Throughout his Administration, President Bush has been vocal in recognizing and confronting Anti-Semitism in all of its forms. Below are links to remarks by the President at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, a visit by the President to Auschwitz, as well as a report by the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism.
President Bush gives Remarks at United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/04/images/20010419-1.html
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/04/20070418.html
President Bush visits Auschwitz
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/05/images/20030531_birkenau2-515h.html
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/05/images/20030531-3_birkenau1-515h.html
Comprehensive Report on Contemporary Global Anti-Semitism in all its Manifestations
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/102301.pdf