White House National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers praised Israel's economy at an Independence Day reception hosted by the Israeli Embassy in Washington yesterday. Summers represented the Obama administration at the event.
Summers said that he "comes from the world of economics" and noted that the Israeli economy had made extraordinary achievements since independence, especially given the wars and constant threats with which the country must cope with. He did not comment about the condition of the Israeli economy in the current global crisis.
Summers added that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can expect a warm welcome during his upcoming visit to the White House in May. Summers said that economics will be one of the topics on the agenda. The Obama administration's efforts to achieve an Israeli-Palestinian peace will top the agenda, but Summers said that this was not a case of peace at any price, but peace that would not reward terrorism and which would be in line with Israel's security. He reiterated President Barack Obama's commitment to Israel's security.
Summers made some of his comments in conversations with correspondents after his official speech.
At the reception, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said that the US would not stay silent until Hamas releases IDF corporal Gilad Shalit.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 30, 2009
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