United States President George Bush met with Israeli reporters in Washington on Monday shortly before a planned trip to Israel. Bush told the reporters that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is “an honest guy” and easy to talk to. He avoided questions about Olmert’s alleged involvement in a campaign financing scandal, which was revealed to the public last week.

Bush expressed confidence in Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas as well, describing Abbas as a partner for peace. When asked if he believed Abbas would be willing to give up the PA’s demand for the “right of return” to Israel of millions of foreign Arabs, Bush said it would depend on how badly Abbas wanted a PA state.