Posted on 02/08/2006 11:46:50 AM PST by Esther Ruth
Olmert Hints at Future Withdrawals; Opposed from All Quarters 16:18 Feb 08, '06 / 10 Shevat 5766 By Hillel Fendel
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, in his first major interview since assuming office, says that Israel wants to separate itself from most of the Arab population in Judea and Samaria.
Speaking on Channel Two television last night, Olmert implied that he would initiate another unilateral withdrawal. "Israel will preserve most of the settlement blocs," he said. "We will come together in central settlement blocs, and maintain a united Jerusalem. Ariel, Gush Etzion and Maaleh Adumim will be part of Israel."
The Acting PM was attacked by spokesmen of the Likud, Labor, and Meretz - and even from within his own Kadima Party.
Meretz leader and former MK Yossi Beilin attacked Olmert for not going far enough in his concessions. He said that Olmert's "populist election map is an expression of Kadima's scorn for the Israeli voter. The public well understands that a Jerusalem with all the Palestinian neighborhoods of a quarter of a million Palestinians, and the Jordan Valley and Ariel that are connected by a thin string to sovereign Israel, cannot be a part of true map of an Israeli-Palestinian agreement."
Beilin said, "Olmert's insistence on keeping some of the settlement blocs is a mistake, and will cause the conflict with the Palestinian entity to never end."
The Meretz leader added that the Jordan Valley is a large area that must be part of the Arab entity so that the "Palestinians can develop and exist."
Olmert actually did not make any promises regarding the Jordan Valley. Asked about this area, he merely said, "We will preserve Israel's eastern border." Uzi Landau of the Likud, attacking from the right, noted that Olmert "didn't say he would keep the Jordan Valley, but just that Israel would retain its eastern border. That could mean nothing more than an 80-meter wide strip, just like the Philadelphi Route."
Likud spokesmen say that Olmert is deceiving the public by hinting that he would keep the Jordan Valley, because his party platform itself does not mention the Jordan Valley. They note that Foreign Minister Tzippy Livny, #3 on the Kadima list, has stated clearly that the partition fence will be Israel's eastern border.
"Kadima is trying to blur its intention to retreat to the pre-'67 lines, with just slight border modifications," the Likud says.
"If he really wants to show that these areas are attached to the State," said a Yesha Council official, "he would not make empty declarations, but would rather build massively and remove the restrictions on the development of these areas. Contrary to what Olmert says, Israel is restricting construction and is not doing what is necessary to connect Maaleh Adumim to Jerusalem."
The Yesha Council says it will do all it can to fight Olmert. "He's better than Ariel Sharon, in that at least we know where we stand," said Council Director-General Avner Shimoni. "We will do everything to make sure that Olmert does not form the next government and carry out his plans."
On the other hand, Ami Ayalon, a top Knesset candidate on the Labor Party list, said that if Olmert thinks he can retain the entire Jordan Valley, "he is a hallucinating leader."
Within Kadima, former General Security Service head Avi Dichter - assigned to the fifth slot on the party's Knesset list - said he would object to any future unilateral disengagements.
Another top-rated Kadima personality, Minister Tzachi HaNegbi, said that a unilateral disengagement is not feasible for at least another "year or two," and that even then, Israel must annex some Judea/Samaria areas at the same time.
Prior to the interview last night, Olmert toured the route of the planned partition fence around Jerusalem and Gush Etzion. The police prevented several dozen National Union protestors from crossing into Bethlehem to demonstrate against Olmert. The protestors accused Olmert of using the police to silence his political opponents.
Olmert was accompanied by Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra, Jerusalem Affairs Minister Tzachi HaNegbi, and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz.
Published: 11:51 February 08, 2006 Last Update: 16:18 February 08, 2006
As what? Palestinius Bombococcus? The Pali encampments are akin to bacterial colonies that group together for the purpose of devouring prey. Why keep feeding these pathogens?
Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel.
..................
Olmert, Sharon, Peres and the others have not ever figured out that the land belongs to the Jews, given to them from G-d. That does not mean that they have to possess it, because it is a gift. However, they should probably re-read Deuteronomy 30:16-18 to understand what G-d will do with them....
Very good
We won't mention the voters' scorn for Yossi Beilin, who gets his ass kicked in every election.
FRmail me to be added or removed from this Judaic/pro-Israel/Russian Jewry ping list.
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
Bibi 06
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.