Knesset Opposition Leader and Likud Party Chairman Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu welcomed US President George W. Bush to a special session of the parliament in a speech Thursday afternoon. Netanyahu, a former Prime Minister, called Bush a "great friend of Israel" and noted that "since the induction of Israel the US has stood by our side time and again."

Netanyahu also made a point of focusing on the looming threat of Iranian nuclear technology bringing weapons of mass destruction to the region as well as backing terrorist forces already at Israel's doorstep. "Israel strives for regional peace in order to strengthen the moderate forces and weaken the radical ones," he said. "For that to happen Israel will have to maintain its borders. It must be able to protect itself and the future peace."

In addition to the nuclear weapons it is believed Iran is currently developing, Israel was attacked Wednesday and again Thursday morning with Iranian-made medium-range Grad missiles, one of which badly damaged the Chutzot shopping mall in Ashkelon, wounding at least 94 people on Wednesday afternoon.