US President George W Bush met Wednesday afternoon in Jerusalem with President Shimon Peres, hours after arriving at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv for a 48-hour visit, reported dpa.
The two men chattered easily as they walked around the garden in Peres' official residence, before facing reporters and giving brief statements.
Peres also presented Bush with a Bible and a jewel box for the occasion of his daughter's wedding.
Bush is in Israel to honour the country on its 60th anniversary. He will give a keynote speech at an international conference Peres is hosting in Jerusalem, and will also address the Knesset.
He is also scheduled to hold talks with Israeli leaders before he departs on Friday for Saudi Arabia. On Saturday and Sunday he will meet Palestinian leaders n the Egyptian resort of Sharm a-Sheikh.