Bush: Jews should support Mid-East Democracy

JTA :

President Bush urged supporters of Israel to heed his call for the democratization of the Middle East.
“If you’re a supporter of Israel, I would strongly urge you to help other countries become democracies,” Bush said at a speech Monday at the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. “Israel’s long-term survival depends upon the spread of democracy in the Middle East.”
Differences over regime change in Syria have emerged in recent weeks between Israel and the Bush administration. Israel favors keeping Syrian President Bashar Assad in place, albeit with sanctions to push Syria to end its support for terrorism.
Israel fears that Assad’s removal could lead to chaos and greater militancy, but administration officials say that could create the conditions for democracy.
Israel is also increasingly concerned over the fallout of the U.S.-led Iraq war, fearing that elections this week could hand a victory to allies of Iran, viewed by Israel as its deadliest enemy in the region.