U.S. President George W. Bush lashed out Thursday at those who would negotiate with "terrorists," calling the approach comparable to the "appeasement" of Adolf Hitler before the Second World War, comments that were perceived by Senator Barack Obama as a personal attack.

"Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along," Bush said in a speech to Israel's parliament as part of the country's 60th anniversary celebrations.

No names were mentioned, but it was widely seen as a criticism of Democratic presidential nomination front-runner Obama, who has expressed willingness to meet with leaders of U.S. adversaries such as Iran and Syria.

The Illinois senator was quick to respond by issuing a statement accusing Bush of launching a "false political attack" and stressing that he doesn't support engagement with terrorists.

White House press secretary Dana Perino flatly denied the idea that the remark was aimed in any way at Obama.

Bush was referring to "a wide range of people who have talked to or suggested" we talk to such opponents as Hamas, Hezbollah or their state sponsors, said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

The comment also comes after former president Jimmy Carter held talks with Hamas leaders last month and pushed for the militant group to be brought into the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Bush's lengthy speech focused on promoting the strong alliance between the United States and Israel, but during it he also took aim at those who make the case for negotiating with "terrorists and radicals."

He said that when Nazi tanks had crossed into Poland, an American senator declared that if they had talked to Hitler, the situation could've been avoided.

Bush said that such "false comfort of appeasement" has been "repeatedly discredited by history."

In Obama's responding statement, he said, "It is time to turn the page on eight years of policies that have strengthened Iran and failed to secure America or our ally Israel."

"Instead of tough talk and no action, we need to do what Kennedy, Nixon and Reagan did and use all elements of American power — including tough, principled and direct diplomacy — to pressure countries like Iran and Syria," he said.

With files from the Associated Press