Posted on 03/28/2006 8:16:02 PM PST by Alouette
Elections winner Olmert visits Western Wall before delivering victory speech; Kadima leader vows to bring peace, stresses need to renew negotiations, but tells PA leader Abbas: We won't wait forever
Acting Prime Minister and Kadima leader Ehud Olmert turned to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas early Wednesday and called for "reconciliation, compromise and peace," but told the PA chairman Israel will not "wait forever."
In order to move forward Israel will need to renounce parts of the Land of Israel and evacuate Jews from their homes, the acting PM said.
In his victory speech following what is shaping up as a Kadima election victory, Olmert said: "A chapter in the history of the country has ended. We're tasked with shaping the future of the State, and before we bring peace with our neighbors we must make peace within, us patiently and with love."
"The people have spoken clearly, they want Kadima," olmert said, and spoke about the need to renounce the dream of the Greater Land of Israel "and evacuate, with much pain, Jews."
Olmert thanks Sharon
Despite Hamas' election victory, Olmert turned to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and called on him to bring peace. The acting PM also repeated his pre-election pledges to "take our destiny in our own hands, in coordination with the United States and the international community."
"I'm saying those things here and now out of a belief in the State of Israel's immense power and the immeasurable courage of its soldiers, military leaders, and security forces to hit any enemy and defeat any terrorist," Olmert said. "Out of this sense of strength we must act with all our power in order to create hope for a different life for our young generation and that of our Palestinian neighbors."
The acting PM said that in the coming period he intends to strive for the formulation of the State of Israel's permanent borders as a Jewish democratic state.
"There's no better replacement than a peace deal, and no peace is more stable that one based on an agreement premised on mutual recognition, deals signed in the past, the principles of the Road Map, and of course, an end to violence and the disarming of terror groups," he said.
In his speech, Olmert also expressed his gratitude to ailing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who he said "changed direction, aroused hope, and proposed a new way."
"I've had three difficult months since the night of January 4th," Olmert said, referring to the night PM Sharon was rushed to hospital after suffering a massive stroke. "But I didn't remain alone. I was surrounded with love, good will, and an endless willingness to assist me in running the State of Israel."
Earlier, Olmert went to the Western Wall in Jerusalem to express his gratitude for the victory.
Meanwhile, the vote count is on in earnest, with final results expected to confirm Kadima's win.
According to all exit polls, Kadima won around 30 seats, with Labor finishing second at around 20 seats. Israel Our Home, led by Avigdor Lieberman, is slated to become the third largest party with 12-14 seats, according to the polls.
Ahiya Raved contributed to the story
YNet, and Olmert is trying to ignore the fact that Shas came in 3rd with 13 seats. He is going to have a tough time now trying to pull together a coalition without some right-wing parties.
Olmert has already declared war on Jews.
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
I expect some of the religious parties will give Olmert the margin he needs to cleanse Judea and Shomron of Jews.
Social welfare crumbs are more important to them than the Land.
Only on the extremists, a tiny minority of Jews. The vast majority of Jews in Israel and elsewhere support unilateral separation.
War on you? Perhaps.
Actually, where 220,000 Jews live in Judea and Samaria would be annexed to Israel permanently under Prime Minister Olmert's plans, the flip side that you choose to ignore.
Cut the Kumbaya crap, Olmert. Is kicking Jews out of their homes and capitualting to terrorism your idea of "making peace within?"
Chairman: Eli Yishai
Party platform:
Party pledges to set objectives for minimizing unemployment and rewarding employers. Assistance to women and sectors in need of support. The formulation of a socioeconomic convention in order to create a common denominator for all market forces.
Integrating Jewish tradition into the education system. The doctrine guiding the party's platform is that Israel is the Jewish people's state and Jewish identity must be preserved when it comes to decision making, while curbing moves that would see "a country of all its citizens" emerging. The party does not call for a state based on religious law, but rather, "a state with a Jewish soul" where Jewish character is preserved within state laws. Every diplomatic question on the agenda has answers in Jewish law. The party's spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, determines the party's official position. Yosef and other leading rabbis believe territorial compromise is allowed, but only when life is at stake and something is received in return.
The vast majority of Jews in Israel were too freakin' lazy to vote...and you are speaking of liberals who have given up any claims to their religion.
That wasn't known when he made his speech. Exit polls had Yisrael Beitenu at 13-14 seats, Shas at 12, and Likud at 10. The final results were different, of course. I assure you Eli Yishai is one of the first people Prime Minister Olmert will be calling on in coalition talks.
I think its time for the Right to accept that withdraw will happen and can't be stopped -- and for the sane right to make their peace with Olmert in an attempt to at least save Bibi's economic reforms from the socialist scum in Labor and Pensioneers.
You ignore that not a single nation in the world supports allowing Israel to unilaterially draw its borders, not even the United States.
The Kadima/Labor platform you support is based on a lie.
The wall is not going to be the final border.
You will be forced back to the Auschwitz borders, the Western Wall will be in Pal. hands, and Jerusalem will be divided again.
All based on lies you and others choose to believe, preferring them to reality.
First, a turnout of 65% or so is a majority. That is a record low in Israel but it means the vast majority did vote.
All streams of Judaism count as Jews. Even the Orthodox recognize that in Israel and elsewhere. Your narrow minded view of Judaism is yours and those of others in what one Freeper termed the "Jewish Taliban" here. I am Masorti (Conservative), meaning not Orthodox. I have family members who are secular in every way. They are still Jews and you have no right to determine otherwise.
Now we even see an attack on Haredim who do not think FreepThink. Amazing!
Frontline is showing him right now..
"Israel: The Unexpected Candidate" Episode #502.
Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert may succeed Ariel Sharon.
Original Airdate: March 28, 2006.
So all the Jews scheduled to be expelled are being punished for their "extremist" views, is that what you're saying? That Jews should be punished but Hamas sympathizers in Israel are secure in the privilege that they can never, never, never be removed from wherever they choose to live in Israel.
And after bad "extremist" Jews have been put in tent camps or double-wides and their former homes, gardens and businesses turned over to the tender attention of the swarming Palestinians, we'll all join hands and sing kumbaya and everything will be sweetness and joy.
Is that what you really believe?
How is anyone going to force a nation with a large quantity of nuclear arms to do anything it chooses not to? We will draw our own borders. President Bush has already agreed, in writing, that Israel will not return to the 1949 armistice line and will retain major settlement blocs. I think you are the one engaged in self-delusion.
Ehud Olmert is now the *ELECTED* Prime Minister and he will form a new coalition. Israelis choose their future, not armchair Zionists with extremist views in Brooklyn or elsewhere in America. Deal with it. Wake up an smell the coffee and accept reality.
What a pitiful outcome...I am so sorry for Israel...but, they voted for him...go figure.
Correction: official turnout was 63.2%. Still a clear majority did vote, not the other way around.
Why do you call the UTJ "rabbinic whores" but not Shas? I am sure Shas and their 13 seats will be more actively courted by the coalition dealers and they also have their price.
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