    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [January 10, 2008]
    [Pages 64-65]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Visit to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem,
    Palestinian Territories
    January 10, 2008

        Madam Minister, thank you very much for
    your hospitality. It's been a moving moment for me and the delegation to
    be here at the Church of the Nativity. For those of us who practice the
    Christian faith, there's really no more holy site than the place where
    our Savior was born.
        And I want to thank the Government for arranging this trip. I also
    thank very much the three different churches for welcoming me here. It's
    a fascinating history in this church, and so not only was my soul
    uplifted, my knowledge of history was enriched.
        I want to thank the people of Bethlehem for enduring a Presidential
    trip. I know it's been inconvenient for you. I very much appreciate your
    tolerating my entourage. And someday, I hope that as a result of a
    formation of a Palestinian state, there won't be walls and checkpoints,
    that people will be able to move freely in a democratic state. That's
    the vision, greatly inspired by my belief that there is an Almighty and
    a gift of that Almighty to each man, woman, and child on the face of the
    Earth is freedom. And I felt it strongly here today.
        Anyway, thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:46 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to
    Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khouloud Daibes of the Palestinian
    Authority.

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