Middle East Trip

Senator Bill Frist
05/03/2005

I'm in Jerusalem tonight after having a full day of meetings and seeing several historically significant sights. This is my second time to Israel, I was here in 1997, so I'm getting a chance to see the dramatic changes underway in the region.

I started my visit by exploring the Old City. We stopped at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Temple Mount and visited the Wailing Wall. I've been overwhelmed by its holiness and history; easy to understand its significance to all.

Toured the Hadassah Hospital--Womens and Childrens hospital supported by many in the U.S. Over the last 3 years have handled victims of 32 suicide attacks.

Met with Dep. PM Shimon Peres and discussed regional politics and the Roadmap.

Talked with Speaker of Parliament Rivlin and Foreign Affairs/Defense Committee Minister Steinetz--Speaker is my counterpart in the Knesset. Spoke about his views in opposition to disengagement from Gaza.

Overflight of Jerusalem Security Fence--Spent an hour in the air with the architect/builder of the fence.

Met with PM Ariel Sharon and discussed his plans to disengage from Gaza.

Met with Minister Natan Sharansky--Israeli minister who spent years in a Soviet prison and wrote an influential book on the transformative power of democracy.

Meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu--current Finance Minister. 

Praised President Bush's leadership in promoting democracy around the world.

Busy day; look forward to meetings tomorrow with Palestinian leadership and then on to Jordan.

Bill Frist

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