Olmert asks for a word with Bush

www.washingtontimes.com ^ | May 23, 2006 | Joshua Mitnick

[Esther Ruth]

Olmert asks for a word with Bush By Joshua Mitnick THE WASHINGTON TIMES May 23, 2006

TEL AVIV -- Listen for a new buzzword when Ehud Olmert arrives at the White House today for his first meeting as Israeli prime minister with President Bush: "realignment."

After weeks of discussing and polling, Mr. Olmert and his aides have settled on that word to describe his ambitious withdrawal plan that would unilaterally dismantle dozens of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and relocate residents into three main settlement blocs.

In recent weeks, Israelis have become accustomed to hearing the plan called "convergence." The word works well in Hebrew, but with U.S. support for the scheme considered crucial, officials have decided that a better English word was needed to sell it to the American public.

During their talks today, the two leaders are expected to discuss prospects for peace talks with the Palestinians and ways of preventing Iran from gaining nuclear weapons.

But the Israeli prime minister will be most eager to reach an understanding with the U.S. administration on the withdrawal initiative that he outlined during the recent Israeli election campaign. The proposal to evacuate as many as 90,000 Jewish settlers and unilaterally fix a border with the Palestinians could cost as much as $10 billion.

Securing U.S. diplomatic and financial backing is seen as critical to the plan, making overseas marketing all the more crucial, officials said.

The plan has been marketed in Israel with the Hebrew word "hitkansut," which means a coming together.

"?'Hitkansut' sounds really good in Hebrew, but when you translate into English, it's difficult to capture what it means," said an Israeli government official who spoke on the condition that he not be identified.

[Red Badger]

Mybe Olmert can give Bush some pointers on how to build a WALL.............

[Gay State Conservative]

He'll also certainly give Mr Bush an ultimatum..."either you do something about Iran or *we* will".

[Esther Ruth]

Well, whatever they are all cooking up, they seem to have completely ignored the Ultimatum from the One who really matters.


Zechariah 12:3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

How about telling us what that means Esther Ruth is something other than a Nostradamus translation.