Bush wraps up Israel visit

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-12-2008 08:40

Before leaving Israel, President Bush visited Christian holy sites in Galilee.

Prior to his departure, Bush said that he would return to the Mideast in May to continue pressing the Israelis and Palestinians into reaching a peace agreement and to help Israel celebrate its 60th anniversary.

Bush said that he would return to the Mideast in May to continue pressing the Israelis and Palestinians  into reaching a peace agreement and to help Israel  celebrate its 60th anniversary.(CCTV.com)

Earlier, President Bush travelled to northern Israel to visit Christian holy sites in Galilee.

On Friday Bush visited the ruins at Capernaum, in northern Israel, a site where Jesus was said to have performed miracles.

Bush toured the site of an ancient synagogue and greeted nuns outside the Church of the Beatitudes, the place where Christians believe Jesus delivered his famed "Sermon on the Mount."

Earlier in the day, Bush toured the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem.

Bush came away with no significant breakthroughs after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, but the White House said Bush had not expected dramatic progress while he was here.

Meanwhile, Israelis and Palestinians reflected on his visit. On the streets of Jerusalem, some residents said they thought little progress was made.

Before leaving Israel, President Bush visited  Christian holy sites in Galilee.(CCTV.com)

Jerusalem Resident, said, "There's nothing new because the situation is always the same, it's still not solved. It has to come to a resolution."

In Hamas-controlled Gaza, which Bush did not include in his visit, spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Bush's comments had done nothing to help the Palestinians.

Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas Spokesman, said, "We - the Hamas movement - think that Bush did great political service in favor of the Israeli occupation concerning the judaization of the state, the right to return, and Jerusalem. On the other hand, we as Palestinians didn't gain any political advantage."

Bush wants Arab states give Abbas the regional support necessary to sustain any peace deal he could work out with Israel.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei