In Washington, President Bush met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Tuesday to voice support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and back the continued isolation of the Gaza Strip. Abbas dismissed the democratically elected Hamas-led government last week after Hamas forces seized control of Gaza. The U.S. has lifted the aid embargo on the West Bank while promising to tighten the blockade on Gaza. President Bush said he hopes Abbas will lead Palestinians in a “different direction.”

President Bush: “Our hope is that President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad, who is a good fellow, will be strengthened to the point where they will be able to lead the Palestinians in a different direction with a different hope. The prime minister has spoken to me, and I have spoken to him about our desire to help suffering Palestinians. Nobody likes suffering on the border. Nobody likes suffering in the world.”