United States President George Bush spoke to ministers at a state dinner on Thursday night, telling them to ensure that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert remains in power. “He’s a strong political leader,” Bush said. Bush spoke to Yisrael Beiteinu head Avigdor Lieberman and Shas head Eli Yishai in particular. Both have threatened to pull their parties from the coalition due to Olmert’s willingness to discuss “core issues” with the Palestinian Authority, which they say does not have the power to make peace.
Bush talked with the ministers and with Olmert’s wife, Aliza Olmert, about a variety of topics, including the Iranian threat and the ministers’ family heritage. Bush was reportedly surprised to hear that not a single minister was born to parents who were born in Israel.