By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Israeli President Shimon Peres spoke today in favor of peace in the Middle East, but some in the audience likely couldn’t hear his call, as protesters within the room shouted him down. Three eruptions of protesters in the audience were stopped by police. The protesters shouted from tabletops and waved signs saying “stop the occupation” and “free gaza.” This all transpired at the Washington DC Convention Center, at a conference led by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Peres spoke of his commitment to the peace process, saying that one of the big challenges they all faced was to “disconnect religion from terror”, so extremists are not killing in the name of a higher power.

“History is on the side of peace… history’s on our side,” Peres said. He continued that the extremists leading Iran “are on the wrong side of history.” Peres acknowledged that most Iranians are good people whom he respects, but pointed his finger at extremists like Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as being the problem.

“Iran is not threatened by anybody,” Peres said, and continued that Iran’s new missile programs are unnecessary. He said that Iran’s missile development and nuclear program are a threat to Israel “and the global community at large.”

Peres said that he trusts President Obama to make meaningful bilateral negotiations, and to contribute significantly to the peace process.

By Kayleigh Harvey – Talk Radio News Service

At a public hearing on current U.S. Military Aid to the Middle East, retired Ambassador Edward Peck said that the fighting in Gaza is not a war. He said, “That wasn’t a war. There are not two armies fighting there. There was a huge powerful army, armed, financed and equipped by us, kicking the crappe, that’s a French word, c-r-a-p-p-e, kicking the crappe out of a helpless, defenseless people, who had nothing to fight back with.”

 

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According to a poll conducted by Neil Newhouse, partner and co-founder of Public Opinion Strategies, the majority of Americans blame Hamas leaders for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza (0:32)

 

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According to data released by the Israel Project, the majority of American voters support Israel.

The study, which was formulated by Stanley Greenberg, Ph.D Chairman and CEO of Greenburg, Quinlan, Rosner and Neil Newhouse, (partner and co-founder of Public Opinion Strategies), American voters supported Israelis over the Palestinians by a margin of 57 to 8.

“When Americans are asked ‘who do you blame for the current conflict in the Gaza strip, by a 56-18 margin Americans blame the Palestinians rather than Israel, with 8% blaming them both,” said Neil Newhouse during a teleconference on Voter Attitudes on Israel’s Operation in Gaza.

Newhouse went on to address the humanitarian crises in the Gaza Strip, and announced that regardless of who Americans blame for the overall conflict, Hamas leaders are blamed more than Israeli leaders by 66% to 17%.

“The bottom line is that there’s enduring support for Israel. There’s no evidence that the overall identification and support for Israel has diminished,” concluded Greenberg.

As the January 20th exit date draws closer, George W. Bush gave his final press conference as President and took the opportunity to comment on his legacy, shortcomings, and the work that awaits President elect Barack Obama.

“Through it all, I have respected you,” the President told the White House Press Corps, going on to joke that they had sometimes ‘misunderestimated’ him.

In regard to questions surrounding the remaining $350 billion of TARP funds, Bush explained that he is waiting for President-Elect Obama to ask for the TARP funds before sending the request to Congress.

When asked about the situation in Gaza, the President commented that he would like to see a two state solution and noted that in order for Israel to be successful, they would need a democracy along their border. On the subject of ending the conflict, Bush said that the responsibility lies with the Palestinians and that there can be no peace until Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel.

Bush stated that although there is a debate within the intelligence community, he believes North Korea is still a viable threat and capable of producing enriched Uranium.

The President commented on the future of his party, warning that the temptation may exist for Republicans to isolate themselves by looking inward and applying a litmus test to judge themselves by. Bush felt that the Republican party should try to be more broad minded and compassionate.

He stated that he was not sure why critics have been so harsh towards him and also denied the notion that America’s moral standing had been diminished by his Presidency, saying that those allegations have been coming from elites in Western Europe and not from areas like Africa or Asia where U.S. influence matters most.

When questioned about preemptive pardons, the President refused to give a statement.

Bush acknowledged that there have been a number of mistakes and disappointments throughout his presidency, and cited the infamous “Mission Accomplished” banner, prisoner abuse in Abu Ghraib, and not finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The President also regretted campaigning to alter Social Security so close after the 2004 election, saying that he should have focused on immigration reform instead.

One action that the President did not view as a mistake was the handling of Hurricane Katrina. Bush predicted that had he landed the plane in New Orleans or Baton Rogue, the diversion of police forces for his protection would have caused controversy as well. He also said that he felt it was unfair to call the response time slow, citing the 30,000 New Orleans residents who were rescued by helicopter after the storm hit.

Bush said that after his term, he expected to leave the spotlight, although he admitted that as a ‘Type-A’ personality, that was unlikely.

One glaring omission from the conference was an attempted question by veteran White House reporter Helen Thomas. Although having her hand raised for the final question, the President did not choose her.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) discussed the economic recovery package and described the advantageous situation Congressional Democrats have found themselves in.

“We have to think differently about this. We’ve been so used to an uphill fight, but now we have arrived. We have a strong 80 vote majority in the House, we have a Democratic President in the White House,” said Pelosi during her first weekly press conference of the 111th Congress.

“His economic recovery package, almost sight unseen, is supported by 79% of the American people, so we have the opportunity to move…not hastily, but quickly. ”

The Speaker promised that the details will be dealt with by the appropriate committees in the following weeks and promised that a bill will be drafted before Congress goes into recess.

Pelosi blamed the Bush tax cuts for upper class Americans as the largest contributor to the deficit and stated,

“Put me down, as clearly as you possibly can, as one who wants to have those tax cuts for the wealthiest in America repealed.”

The Speaker also touched on the recent situation in Gaza.

“We will have on the floor, hopefully tomorrow, a resolution about what is happening on the Middle East middle east. I spoke with Prime Minister Olmert Saturday… and expressed to him concerns that we have over collateral damage that is happening in the Gaza Strip.

Pelosi went on to say that she still defends Israel’s, and the right of any country, to defend itself.

Robert Serry, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, speaking at the United Nations Security Council Stakeout details “positive” and “significant” progress in the Middle East peace process. (1:31)

 

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Robert Serry, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, speaking at the United Nations Security Council Stakeout today stated that the Palestinians need “visible and tangible progress on the ground.” (0:33)

 

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Robert Serry, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Proces, describes the situation in Gaza as an “unsustainable humanitarian crisis.” (1:12)

 

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Briefer: Dana Perino

President had his normal briefings this morning. At 10:25 am, he will receive the Annual Report to the Nation by the Boy Scouts of America. At 10:50 am, President Bush meets with the King of Jordan. At noon, President and Mrs. Bush will host a private social lunch with the King and Queen of Jordan in the Family Dining Room of the White House. At 1.15 pm, the President makes remarks to Political Appointees and Federal Government Employees in DAR- Constitution Hall in Washington, DC.
White House Press Secretary Dana Perino will brief the press at noon today.
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