    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [May 14, 2008]
    [Pages 682-683]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks in Jerusalem
    May 14, 2008

        Thank you all. President Peres, thank you,
    sir, for your hospitality. Mr. Prime Minister
    and Mrs. Olmert, it's great to be with you. We
    consider you friends. Heads of state, thank you all for coming. I think
    it's a great tribute to this conference, as well as to Israel, that so
    many heads of state have come. Ex-heads of state and ex-leaders, thanks
    for being here. Save a seat in the ex-leader's club. [Laughter] Citizens
    of Israel: Laura and I loved coming to your
    beautiful country, and thank you for your warm hospitality. Citizens of
    the United States, my fellow Americans: Spend freely and behave
    yourselves. [Laughter]
        Distinguished guests, I really appreciate your warm welcome. And we
    are thrilled to be here with one of America's closest friends.
    Laura and I are honored to represent the American
    people on the 60th anniversary of your independence. Happy birthday.
        As we celebrate the anniversary, it is useful to look back at the
    story of your founding. It is the story of how faith guided the Jewish
    people through centuries of bitter exile. It is a story of how those
    living behind ghetto walls and barbed wire never lost sight of
    Jerusalem. It is a story of how brave pioneers risked everything to
    redeem the promise of this land. It is a marvelous story.
        When Israel's founders gathered in Tel Aviv to sign your Declaration
    of Independence, the threat of war loomed. But it could not overshadow
    the joy of people who had lived to see their prayers answered.
    Celebrations broke out all across this land, and of course, they broke
    out in America as well. In New York, young men and women danced the hora
    in the streets. In Washington, a crowd gathered to watch a flag-raising
    ceremony outside the building that would become Israel's first Embassy.
    After one man saw the flag bearing the Star of David, he said, ``I never
    thought I'd live to see this day.''
        Looking back 60 years later, it is important to remember what the
    founders of Israel had to overcome at every stage of the journey. They
    established one of the world's great democracies in a region where
    democracy had few roots. They formed a unified army out of immigrants
    and refugees from many different countries. They planted the seeds of a
    modern economy

    [[Page 683]]

    in the sands of an ancient desert. In these accomplishments, we see the
    visionary leadership of men and women like Herzl and Weizmann and Ben-
    Gurion and Golda Meir and Rabin and Sharon, and
    we honor each of them this evening.
        And looking back 60 years later, we've also got to remember the
    courage of President Harry S. Truman. As Israel prepared to declare
    independence, President Truman faced a tough choice over whether to
    recognize a new state. The future of Israel hung in the balance. As
    Chaim Weizmann told the President, he said, ``History and Providence
    have placed this issue in your hands.'' And today, we know that the
    forces of Providence could not have chosen a better man than America's
    33d President.
        Eleven minutes after Israel came into existence, the United States
    became the first nation to recognize its independence. And because Harry
    Truman did what was right instead of following the conventional wisdom,
    we can say today that America is Israel's oldest and best friend in the
    world.
        With every passing year, the bonds of friendship between America and
    Israel have grown stronger. America stands for peace, and so does
    Israel. And as we stand in peace, we must understand the realities of
    the world in which we live. We must be steadfast and we must be strong
    in the face of those who murder the innocent to achieve their
    objectives. And in the long run, we share a powerful belief in a
    powerful weapon against the terrorists. We believe that the surest way
    to defeat the enemies of hatred is to advance the cause of hope through
    the cause of freedom, liberty as the great alternative to tyranny and
    terror.
        Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for inviting me to speak at the Knesset
    tomorrow. I hear it's a place of many a sharp elbow. [Laughter] I'm
    looking forward to giving my speech. [Laughter] I'm not going to be
    throwing any elbows. But I will talk about the day when I believe every
    child in the Middle East can live in peace and live in freedom. With
    trust in the Rock of Israel, we know that day will come. And when it
    does, the United States of America will be at your side.
        God bless Israel, and God bless America.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:20 p.m. at the ICC Jerusalem
    International Convention Center. In his remarks, he referred to
    President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and former Prime
    Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel; and Aliza Olmert, wife of Prime
    Minister Olmert.