Bush arrives in Israel at start of Mideast visit

TEL AVIV, Jan 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush arrived in Israel on Wednesday at the start of a Middle East visit he hopes will put Israelis and Palestinians on course for a peace agreement within a year.

Air Force One landed at Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion Airport, where President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other Israeli officials waited to greet Bush, seen by many Israelis as the best friend the Jewish state has had in the White House. (Writing by Jeffrey Heller, Editing by Alastair Macdonald)