“It’s not for nothing,” said Olmert. “It’s in exchange for a change in the region’s strategic alignment.”
Bush shot back: “Why should you believe him?”
And Olmert was silent.
Really, you can’t make this stuff up.
“Bush to Olmert: Why are you giving Syria the Golan for nothing?,” by Aluf Benn for Haaretz, December 2 (thanks to Pamela):
WASHINGTON – U.S. President George Bush believes that Israel is offering Syria the Golan Heights without getting anything in exchange, according to sources briefed on his White House meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert last week.
After Olmert updated Bush on Israel’s indirect talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad, the U.S. president demanded, “Why do you want to give Assad the Golan for nothing?” the sources said.
“It’s not for nothing,” Olmert insisted. “It’s in exchange for a change in the region’s strategic alignment.”
Bush persisted: “Why should you believe him?” And to that, Olmert did not reply….