Thoughts and opinions from the Rocky Mountains
A diplomatic source in Jerusalem told Ha’aretz on Saturday that lame-duck Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is preparing to guarantee the full surrender of the Golan Heights in exchange for direct talks with Syria’s leadership.
You know, the Golan Heights isn’t just a nice piece of land and popular vacation destination; it’s a necessary possession for Israel to be able to defend itself. Giving it away makes the IDF’s job even harder!
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni will not become her nation’s second female prime minister. At least not yet.
After winning her Kadima Party’s early primary election in September, Livni was given 42 days to cobble together a majority coalition to replace the government of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
But on Sunday Livni informed Israeli President Shimon Peres that she had failed in that task, and recommended going to early national elections.
There are a lot of factors at work here, and an early general election isn’t set in stone. While Benjamin Netanyahu would probably be the favorite to win an election, Ehud Olmert is a crafty guy. Considering that this would extend his time in office as interim PM, there’s no telling what he could pull off.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Tuesday he received assurances that Russia would not allow Israel’s security to be threatened, but offered no indication he had won the concrete promises he sought on Russian arms sales or sanctions on Iran.
And Olmert actually believed them! *snicker*
In all seriousness, I’m starting to think Ehud Olmert might be the most gullible politician in the world today. Russia is selling arms to a country that wants to wipe Israel off the map. How does that protect Israel’s security?
Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Israel will have to give up virtually all of the land it captured in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War if it wants peace with the Palestinians. Mr. Olmert, now serving as interim prime minister, made his remarks in a farewell interview with Israel newspaper Yediot Aharonot published Monday.
I guess he’s almost right. If Israel goes to the 1948 borders it will be virtually impossible to defend itself, thus Israel vanishes, leaving no more Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Thank God this guys is leaving.
Olmert: ‘Forget Greater Israel’
By Ze’ev Ben-Yechiel“The notion of a Greater Israel no longer exists, and anyone who still believes in it is deluding themselves,” said Ehud Olmert, in what is likely to be his last cabinet meeting as Prime Minister.
Thank goodness he’s almost out of office. Maybe he won’t completely destroy the place before then.
Olmert likely to face jail time, say police
By Israel Today StaffEmbattled Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is likely to face jail time as a result of at least some of the seven corruption investigations being carried out at the moment, police sources told Ha’aretz on Monday.
Article Continues… (Israel Today)
Things aren’t looking god for ol’ Ehud. Here’s hoping he doesn’t do anymore damage in his desperate attempt to retain power.
Israel Considers Paying Settlers to Leave West Bank
By Robert BergerIn a sign of progress in Middle East peace talks, Israel is considering a plan to lure Jewish settlers away from the occupied West Bank.
Article Continues… (VOA)
Just like Bush wants to be the President that enacted the “Two-State Solution,” Ehud Olmert would like to be the Prime Minister responsible for the very same thing. Don’t be surprised to see him pushing harder than ever to make this happen before both guys leave office.
Olmert to stay PM even if indicted
By Gil Hoffman and Dan IzenbergPrime Minister Ehud Olmert will remain head of the transitional government that would come into being when he quits following the Kadima primary, even if Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz decides to indict him, a source close to Olmert said Saturday night.
Article Continues… (Jerusalem Post)
The JPost headline is a little misleading, as it turns out Olmert will be allowed to stay in power until the date of his leaving office rolls around. Probably not a big deal, but I don’t know how comforting it would be to have an indicted criminal running your country.
Question: If Olmert remains in office after indictment, can he pardon himself?
Israeli Police Question Olmert for 4th Time in Corruption Probe
By Robert BergerInvestigators presented documents to Mr. Olmert allegedly showing that as a public official, he double and triple-billed institutions and charities for trips abroad and pocketed the difference.
Article Continues… (VOA)
Like so many politicians nowadays, Olmert wasn’t done in by his shoddy policies (only God knows why), but by corrupt non-political dealings. I pray his replacement is someone with much more integrity.
Olmert Ready to Give Away Golan in Exchange for Direct Talks
By Ze’ev Ben-YechielPrime Minister Ehud Olmert has told Damascus that he is prepared to cede the Golan to Syria in exchange for Syria’s agreement to enter into direct talks with Israel, according to sources in the Knesset.
Article Continues… (Arutz Sheva)
The Golan Heights are crucial to Israel’s northern defense, so I guess it only makes sense to give them away simply for agreeing to talk.
Olmert is out in September. I only hope he doesn’t cause Israel to self-destruct before then.
