PM Olmert:  I actually think that we are very, very restrained in using the power of Israel, but you know whenever someone criticizes us for these events, I say, what is your formula for a thousand rockets falling on the heads of innocent Israelis? What would you do?  What would any decent country in the world do when tens of thousands of their citizens on a daily basis are attacked from across the border without any provocation, without any reason?  Do we have the obligation to defend them?  Do we not have the obligation to try and prevent it before more Israelis are killed in these terrorist actions?  That's what we are trying to do.

Lauer:  Is it fair to say that American lives will be in put at risk because of the military operation in Gaza?

PM Olmert:  No, I don't think so and quite frankly, American lives were in danger a lot before, and Bin Laden's attacking of America had nothing to do with Israel, and the fighting in Afghanistan and Pakistan and all of those places have nothing to do with Israel.  They attacked America because they hate in American what they hate in us which is the Western civilizations, which are the basic principles of honesty and decency and tolerance which characterize our life and the American life and which they absolutely are against.

Lauer:  I know you paid close attention to the elections, the midterm elections in the United States this week.   It was not good news for the Republicans, they lost control of both the House and the Senate. A day later Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld resigned or was shown the door depending on whom you listen to.  What's your reaction to those events?

PM Olmert:  I can say that for many, many years, Israel always had very good relations with Congress when it was led by the Republicans, when it led by the Democrats.  America is friendly to Israel.  Israel is a great friend of America.

Lauer:  What specifically do you want the United States to do in dealing with Iran that they are not doing right now?

PM Olmert:  First of all, I don't come with complaints.

Lauer:  You're happy with the way it's going?

PM Olmert:  I have enormous respect for President Bush.

Lauer:  But are you happy with the way it's going?

PM Olmert:  I think that he is absolutely committed.  I know that America will not allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons because this is a danger to the whole Western world.

Lauer: Let me move to the subject of religion which is the why I'm here in Israel today.  Recently, an 18 year old Palestinian woman blew herself up, a suicide bomber, near some Israeli soldiers.  She left behind a note for her mother, that said "Consider me a martyr, and god- willing we will meet in Paradise."

Forget as Prime Minister, as a person, how do you come to terms with an act of violence like that in the name of a god.

PM Olmert:  It's terrible, unfortunately this is part of the environment amongst certain extreme Muslim groups and it has been part of the scene s that we have encountered over the last few years, and we are the target and this is what we have to deal with on a daily basis, and in spite of this Jerusalem will forever remain an open city.