(JNS.org) Former U.S. President George W. Bush made a surprise appearance at the 50th anniversary tribute gala of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations last week in New York, saying Iran cannot be trusted when it claims its nuclear program has peaceful intentions. Bush quoted from his May 2008 speech to the Israeli Knesset in which he said, “Permitting the world’s leading sponsor of terror to possess the world’s deadliest weapon would be an unforgivable betrayal of future generations.”

The gala for the Conference of Presidents, the umbrella group of more than 50 national Jewish organizations, honored Malcolm Hoenlein, the umbrella’s executive vice chairman since 1986. The gala also included an opening video message from President Obama. Hoenlein said the fact that remarks from both Obama and Bush were featured demonstrates the Conference of Presidents’ objective of “unity, with diversity.”