US President George W Bush expressed unequivocal support for Israel Thursday, saying it had a right to defend itself against attacks by extremists, should not be expected to negotiate with Hamas, and had American backing in opposing Iran's nuclear ambitions, reported the dpa.
"The alliance between our governments is unbreakable, yet the source of our friendship runs deeper than any treaty," Bush said in an historic address to Israel's Knesset.
"The fight against terror and extremism is the defining challenge of our time," he told the parliament.
"The president of Iran dreams of returning the Middle East to the Middle Ages and calls for Israel to be wiped off the map," he said, adding that as "witnesses to evil in the past, we carry a solemn responsibility to take these words seriously."
"Israel's population may be just over 7 million, but when you confront terror and evil, you are 307 million strong, because the United States of America stands with you," said Bush, who was given a standing ovation and interrupted several times by prolonged applause and cheering.
"We have an obligation to call this what it is - the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history."
Regarding Hamas and rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip he said that "we also believe that nations have a right to defend themselves and that no nation should ever be forced to negotiate with killers pledged to its destruction."