WASHINGTON, May 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush will welcome Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to the White Houseon May 23, the White House said in a statement on Monday.

    "The president looks forward to discussing with the prime minister the strong bilateral relationship between the United States and Israel, as well as a wide range of regional and international issues," the statement said.

    This will be Olmert's first trip overseas since he won the March 28 Israeli general election and a high-level Israeli delegation has left for Washington to lay the groundwork for the Bush-Olmert summit.

    Israel has been a staunch ally of the United States. Enditem