President Bush had an impromptu meeting with Tzipi Livni and Shimon Peres at the United Nations.
Bush invited the Israeli foreign minister and the Israeli president to a meeting after he delivered a speech Thursday at an interfaith conference cosponsored by the United Nations and Saudi Arabia. It was likely his last to the world body before he leaves office in January.
The three posed for photos, and Bush embraced the Israelis warmly. According to Israeli news accounts, Bush pressed the Israeli leaders to continue with the revived Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, imploring them not to "neglect" the process.
Livni told Bush that "the whole world should know that no one can take away from you" a thriving peace process. By standing firm against terrorism, Livni said, Bush returned the Palestinians to the right path.
Bush had hoped to have a deal concluded by the time he left office, but all sides now agree that’s not realistic.
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