Peres backed Bush's optimism for a Middle East peace accord, saying Israelis want to work with the Palestinians.

"We would like to see the Palestinians living together," he said. "They have suffered a great deal of their life. The separation is a tragedy for them and for the rest of us."

Peres also accused Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, of working to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state and chastised Hezbollah for aiming to destroy Lebanon.

Upon his arrival, Bush was greeted at Ben-Gurion International Airport by the Israeli leadership, including Peres, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and opposition leader Member of Knesset (parliament) Benjamin Netanyahu.

Bush then flew by helicopter to Jerusalem for Wednesday and Thursday's events marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel.

It is Bush's second visit to Israel in four months. The U.S. president visited Israel in January for the first time in his seven years' tenure in a bid to advance peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians in the wake of the Annapolis Summit held in November 2007.

During his visit, Bush will also hold talks with Olmert, who is now facing investigations on alleged bribery charges, and other senior officials including Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

Bush will attend an international conference hosted by Peres to mark Israel's 60th anniversary. He is also expected to deliver a speech at a special session of the Knesset.

After the Israeli tour, Bush will visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt during his five-day visit in the region.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2008)