(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-14 19:28

TEL AVIV, Israel  -- US President George W. Bush arrived in Israel on Wednesday, starting his three-day visit to the Jewish state on the occasion of its 60th anniversary.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, right, holds on to US President George W. Bush, center, as US first lady Laura Bush looks on during a welcome ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Wednesday, May 14, 2008. [Agencies]

The US president was greeted at Ben-Gurion international airport by the Israeli leadership, including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, President Shimon Peres and opposition leader Member of Knesset (parliament) Benjamin Netanyahu.

Upon his arrival, the US president said that "Israel and the United States have an enduring alliance that confronts terrorists. "

In comments at the airport, both Peres and Olmert warmly praised Bush for strengthening the long-standing ties between Israel and the United States, which were called by Olmert as "one of Israel's pillars of security."

Peres thanked Bush for "gracing this occasion (of the 60th anniversary)" while praising him for his "steady dedication for the promotion of peace and security."

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, part of Bush's entourage, accompanied the US leader as he walked across the airport runway, as did Bush's wife Laura.

The president is to fly by helicopter from the Ben-Gurion airport to Jerusalem for Wednesday and Thursday's events marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel. Bush also will visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt during his five-day visit in the region.

It is Bush's second visit to Israel in four months. The US president visited Israel in January for the first time in his seven years' tenure, in a bid to advance peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians in the wake of the Annapolis Summit held in November.

During his current visit, Bush is to hold talks with Olmert, who is now facing investigations on alleged bribery charges and President Peres as well as other senior officials, including Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

Bush will attend an international conference hosted by Peres to mark Israel's 60th anniversary.

He is also expected to deliver a speech at a special session of the Knesset (parliament).