Bush Sr., Clinton become honorary heads of US-Israel at 60 celebrations

By HAVIV RETTIG GUR
Former US presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton will be honorary co-chairmen of the national committee that will "initiate and coordinate events that will celebrate Israel's special [60th] anniversary and will highlight the US-Israel special relationship," the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations announced late last week. Throughout 2008, the National Committee for Israel 60 will coordinate and initiate a series of cultural events and educational programs, alongside the publication of materials and organizing of conferences dealing with Israel and Israeli-American relations. "A core part of Israel's story is the special role that the American people and governments have played to support Israel," read a statement by the Conference of Presidents, which said that "the involvement of the former presidents will send a strong and reassuring message to the people of Israel as well as to the American people of the continued stability and growing strength of the bonds between these great democracies."