Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, this afternoon  spoke by telephone with US President George Bush.  The conversation was friendly and dealt with a range of issues.  US President Bush invited Prime Minister Olmert to meet him; the two men agreed that the visit would take place in the near future.

Prime Minister Olmert spoke, this evening, with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and told him that he apologizes – on behalf of the State of Israel – for the crude remarks that MK Avigdor Lieberman made about him in the Knesset.  The Prime Minister added that such remarks ought not to have been heard but from the moment they were, they were unnecessary and damaging.  The Prime Minister emphasized that Israel views Egyptian President Mubarak as a strategic partner and a close friend, and added that he attributes supreme importance to enhancing both bilateral relations and the peace between the two countries.