Posted on 07/09/2007 12:42:34 PM PDT by jhpigott
'Come to Jerusalem to talk' was the message of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to Syrian President Bashar Assad, in an historic interview to Saudi satellite station Al Arabiya, aired by Channel 10 Monday evening.
In his first appearance on a major Arabic news station in over six years, Olmert, speaking in an office adorned with the blue and white Israeli flag, told his Hebrew-speaking interviewer: "Bashar Assad, you know … You know I am ready to hold direct negotiations with you and you also know that it's you who insists on speaking to the Americans. The American president says: 'I don't want to stand between Bashar Assad and Ehud Olmert. If you want to talk, sit down and talk."
Assad has "heard many things from me already," Olmert added.
When asked where he would hold such talks with Assad, Olmert said "any place he [Assad] would agree to meet," hinting that Assad would even be welcome in Jerusalem.
Channel 10 analyst Zvi Yehezkeli remarked that Al Arabiya's broadcasts are transmitted following approval from the Saudi government. He added the network was planning to follow up on Olmert's interview with interviews with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas Damascus-based leader Khaled Mashaal and eventually, Assad himself.
Several weeks ago, during Olmert's visit to the US, American President George W. Bush, in Olmert's presence, was asked if he would mediate between Israel and Syria in an attempt to warm the truce the two countries observe since 1973 into a full-blooded peace treaty. Bush's response was that Olmert "is plenty capable" of achieving such a goal without US help. The Syria Accountability Act, isolating Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism, was passed during Bush's tenure. Despite visits to Damascus by house speaker Nancy Pelosi and other congressmen earlier this year, Bush keeps contacts with Syria cool. However, the US still keeps an embassy in Damascus.
Who knows, maybe Olmert knows what he is doing . . . given his performance last summer in the Hezbollah war, i rather doubt it
ping
Talking with terrorists is an utter waste of breath.
Clueless the Sequel starring Olmert.
...banging my head repeatedly on my desk...
Actually very shrewd. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. He wins points with his patrons in the US though he will alienate the Likud voters.
They really need to get a new PM in there
not only is this guy a waste of space, he is outright dangerous
he may be politically shrewd, but Olmert is clueless when it comes to matters of defense, and when potential hostile advesaries surround you, some military savy is in order.
I will admit, I feel more comfortable with Barak holding the defense portfolio, than I was with Peretz who never served a day in his life
Olmert’s not that clever...
Olmert’s not that clever...
It is a sad state of affairs when the Clinton puppet Barak is in fact more competent to lead Israel than Sharon’s right-hand man.
At least Barak has extensive miliary training which will keep Israel out of blundering military manuveurs. And now that the security fence is built, Barak won’t have to worry as much about daily terror attacks. And I suspect he will be a bit smarter about negotiating with the PLO this time around, after having been snookered by Arafat and Bill.
I'm sure you are, Ehud. Do G-d's people a favor and step down.
And evidently, according to word from Syria, here comes last summer again! And Olmert appears as ready and as competent as ever! Meanwhile, Netanyahu is where?
If there is a shrewd bone ini Olmert’s head, I want to see it. Now. ANd if he is depending on Holy George and company to help him, good luck to him.
This man, not Assad will lead to the destruction of Israel. How can this be happening?
Don’t get me wrong, I hope Barak never again gets to call the PMs office home.
Defense Minister is another thing. He was a very competent soldier and military leader. Anything is better than Peretz. Did you see the photo of Peretz viewing military manuevers thru binoculars with the caps still on the binoculars.
I’m still holding out for a Likud PM the next go around (Netanyahu - not that he doesn’t have his faults either, ahem Hebron). The Israeli public may swing to the right given the current instability of the Middle East. There are a half dozen pots simmering in the region, any one of which could boil over at anytime
Go to Damascus, Ehud. Lets see what kind of reception you get there. Assad in Jerusalem would prompt the Nobel Committee to do something foolish....again.
Looks like there’s two Asshats now. One in Syria, one in Israel.
This is serious, they could be breeding.
Didn’t Syria just “invade” Lebanon (though only about 3 km, but heck, that’s still an invasion)?
And what is the status of the supposedly earnest UN tribunal investigating Syrian links to the murder of a Lebanese Prime Minister?
All these actions of late by Syria and still Assad II warrants an audience?
It’s cr*ptastic!
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.