[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 20 (Monday, May 26, 2008)]
[Pages 717-718]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

May 17, 2008

    Good morning. I'm speaking to you from the Middle East, where Laura 
and I are on a trip to Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
    When Air Force One touched down at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, I 
was greeted by Israel's President and Prime Minister. I joined them in 
celebrating an historic milestone, Israel's 60th anniversary as an 
independent nation. And I assured them that Israel could count on 
America as a strong and steady ally long into the future.
    During our visit, I had conversation with Israel's leaders about 
their efforts to forge peace with the Palestinians and our shared belief 
that a peace agreement is possible this year. I also had the opportunity 
to address members of the Knesset, Israel's elected legislature. I 
reminded these democratic leaders that America was the first nation in 
the world to recognize Israel's independence. I told them that 60 years 
later, America is proud to be Israel's best friend in the world. I 
reaffirmed the principles that make our alliance strong: a love of 
liberty, a devotion to justice, and a respect for human dignity. And I 
said that standing firm on these ideals is the surest way to defeat the 
extremists and build a future of peace for people throughout the Middle 
East.
    For Laura and me, this visit to Israel was an especially moving 
experience. We toured the Bible Lands Museum, saw the Dead Sea Scrolls, 
and visited Masada, an inspiring

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shrine to Jewish courage and sacrifice in the first century. From the 
window of our hotel room, we had a magnificent view of the Old City of 
Jerusalem, home to some of the holiest sites in Judaism, Christianity, 
and Islam. And on our final morning in the city, we met some of Israel's 
young people, talented and hopeful citizens who gave me confidence in 
Israel's future.
    On Friday, we visited another of America's friends in the Middle 
East, Saudi Arabia. I had a series of productive meetings with King 
Abdallah at his farm. We celebrated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic 
relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia. We reaffirmed our 
shared objectives of peace in the Holy Land, a secure and united Iraq, 
and a sovereign, independent Lebanon that is free of outside 
interference. We talked about oil production and gasoline prices. We 
discussed the King's efforts to diversify his nation's economy and the 
importance of political reform. And I thanked him for Saudi Arabia's 
strong commitment to fighting terror.
    Our final stop is Egypt, where we are visiting the beautiful resort 
city of Sharm el-Sheikh. I am meeting with a number of key leaders from 
the region, including President Mubarak of Egypt, President Abbas of the 
Palestinian Authority, King Abdullah of Jordan, President Karzai of 
Afghanistan, Prime Minister Gilani of Pakistan, and several senior 
officials from Iraq's democracy.
    I will also address the World Economic Forum in the Middle East. I 
will stress the importance of building dynamic and diverse economies 
that unleash the creativity and enterprise of citizens throughout the 
region, especially women and young people. I will make clear that the 
only way to ensure true prosperity is to expand political and economic 
freedom. And I will urge leaders across the region to reject spoilers, 
such as the regimes in Iran and Syria, move past old grievances, and 
embrace the changes necessary for a day when societies across the Middle 
East are based on justice, tolerance, and freedom.
    Reaching that day will not be easy. But with continued leadership 
from America and our friends in the region, I am confident that it can 
happen. And when that day arrives, the Middle East will be more hopeful, 
the world will be more peaceful, and the American people will be more 
secure.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 7 p.m. on May 15 at the King David 
Hotel in Jerusalem, Israel, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on May 17. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
May 16 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. Due to the 7-
hour time difference, the radio address was broadcast after the 
President's meeting with President Karzai and before his meeting with 
President Abbas in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. In his address, the President 
referred to President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of 
Israel; and King Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. The 
Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of this address.