US President George Bush (R) welcomed Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas (L), who is the first top Palestinian leader to visit the White House during Bush's presidency. Abbas said Palestinians were "in dire need to have freedom". Photo by WN
US President George Bush welcomed Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who is the first top Palestinian leader to visit the White House during Bush's presidency. The Palestinian leader said Palestinians were "in dire need to have freedom" from Israeli control and that the need for US help was urgent. He spoke just weeks before scheduled parliamentary elections in which his supporters are vying against the militant group Hamas. "Time is becoming our greatest enemy," Abbas said toward the end of a three-day visit during.