WASHINGTON (JTA) — The White House issued an upbeat accounting of President Bush’s relationship with the American Jewish community and Israel.
"For the past eight years, President George W. Bush has been an unwavering supporter of Israel and a friend to the Jewish people around the world," said the e-mail from Scott Arogeti, the White House liaison to the Jewish community, sent to Jewish community leaders on Wednesday, six days before Bush leaves office.
"As the President said in his address to Israel’s Knesset last May, ‘The alliance between our governments is unbreakable, yet the source of our friendship runs deeper than any treaty. It is grounded in the shared spirit of our people, the bonds of the Book, the ties of the soul.’ "
Arogeti attached a compilation of Bush’s pro-Israel speeches, meetings with Israeli leaders and accounts of White House Chanukah parties over the years, as well as Bush’s record on combating anti-Semitism, including the State Department report last year on global anti-Semitism.
Arogeti concludes that "I hope you will take a few moments to reflect on just some of what President George W. Bush has both worked towards and accomplished over the course of his Administration and the strong and resolute leader he has been."
