Posted on 05/26/2008 5:12:45 AM PDT by forkinsocket
Fear of possible military conflict with Syria prompted renewal of negotiations, prime minister reveals at Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee session. 'We must choose between Greater Israel or a Jewish state,' he says. MK Livnat: Olmert's words 'delusional for someone at the end of his political rope'
"Only fantasists can believe that in this day and age, and in the current situation, it is still possible to cling to the vision of 'Greater Israel,' Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday.
The prime minister participated in the committee's session to brief them on the resumption of negotiations with Syria and to address criticism of his apparent willingness to cede the Golan Heights as part of a final peace agreement.
"Today we face the choice between Greater Israel and a Jewish nation – the two are mutually exclusive. They only exist together in the minds of deluded fantasists who misconstrue reality," he said.
The prime minister explained the decision to keep the talks under wraps despite the fact that the matter had been hotly debated by the committee on past occasions was the sensitive nature of the negotiations.
"Anyone in my chair understands that these moves need to be made with the utmost caution, and secrecy is a necessary part of that. Not even the entire cabinet could be privy to the information. I initiated this move in February 2007, with a record of four predecessors who went to Damascus and committed to painful concessions, and let no one put me to the test on proving those commitments – they are all accounted for."
As for international responses to the talks, particularly that of the United States, Olmert stressed that "there is not a single party in the world that told Israel not to negotiate for peace. Irregardless of this, I certainly shared our thoughts and the developments with our closest friends – as is natural.
"What tipped the scales what the burning question of what might happen if, heaven forbid, we would be drawn, due to a miscalculation, into a violent confrontation with Syria. Then I would be asked - how can it be that they were seeking peace and you did not even examine the possibility?"
Greater Israel or Jewish state – not both Olmert also touched on the Palestinian issue, saying that negotiations with the Palestinian Authority were serious and going forward in good faith, but that time was a vital factor in the peace efforts.
Olmert rejected the possibility of 'an economic peace' prior to a final deal, saying that so long as Israel and the PA did not have an agreement backed by the international community regarding the outline of such a comprehensive agreement – nothing would change.
"We are talking about a leadership that wants and talks peace, and that does not instigate terrorism," he said, "the difference between my predecessors and I is the question of realization. We will carry out nothing the day after the deal is signed so long as the Palestinians have yet to fulfill their obligations."
"I was one of those who thought the two-state solution was wrong, but that was a mistake," he said. "Most today understand that the choice is between two states for two peoples or one state in which all have an equal right to vote."
Livnat: Olmert the delusional one
MK Limor Livnat (Likud) slammed Olmert's statements and called them "delusional for someone at the end of his political rope."
Livnat also said Olmert told the committee members that Israel was not negotiating with Hamas – as opposed to comments made by Deputy Premier Haim Ramon, who recently implied Israel was negotiating with the Islamist group despite past decisions against this.
MK Effie Eitam (National Union – NRP) accused Olmert of "trying to deceive the committee through guile and cunning, using stories and slogans.
"It is clear to me now that this is how he behaves in front of police investigators as well," said Eitam. "But his slickness will be of no help to him, we all remember how he brought Hamas to Gaza and Hizbullah to Lebanon and now he is plotting to bring Iran to the Golan Heights. He must be stopped, in the political arena and perhaps the criminal one."
I have loved ones who live in the Galilee. I can't afford to write the Syrian military or Hezbollah as a joke. Their missiles do occasionally hit stuff.
All alliances are based on convenience.
Syria has been trying to get out from under Iran's shadow for a while now.
Give evidence for that statement. Syrias support of Iran and Hezbullah has grown only more vocal and clearer than anytime before. Syria is actively murdering politicians in Lebanon to the benefit of Iran and Hezbullah.
If you actually learned something about the region's politics you might understand a bit more about the region.
Don't you wonder why people sometimes think you to be a tad arrogant and condescending? Sheesh, get off the paper horse... You're statements so far have been either factually wrong, highly hypothetical or rather naive. No lectures on Middle Eastern politics needed here. I studied this stuff, lived for years in Iran before the Revolution and talk with people from this region every day. I also dare to say that I have probably read more books on these issues than you can list.
(Israeli analysts are usually the best)
Van Creveld, right? Overrated.
In regard to my previous comment on the relevancy of the Syrian Army, let me elaborate: The conventional Syrian Army is no match for Israel. They were utterly incapable of reacting to the Israeli air attacks on the other end of Syria. Syrias power lies in their connections to terrorist and non-state forces ala Hamas and Hezbullah. My point being that Israel has no military-strategic advantage in forfeiting Golan.
I have a tough time believing that the Israeli political process hasn’t brought about the fall of the Olmert regime quite some time ago. How can he hang on so long with public opinion so much against him (and justifiably so)?
Who is this madman? The Irgun would have strung him from a tree as a traitor. It just goes to show how Israel has proceeded towards its own suicide.
By “delusional fantasists” does he mean people who believe in HaShem?
Darth Vader: Only delusional fantasists believe in ‘The Audacity of Hope’
Can anyone tell me how an idiot like Olmert became their ruler in the first place? This guy is so “anti-Israel” it’s unbelievable.
The Seven Shephards of Israel in Micah 5:5-6 about Syria.shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai
You're understating matters. Israel not only has no advantage in forfeiting the Golan, their WILL incur a severe military-strategic disadvantage in doing so.
Worst of all, in the various Olmert scenarios, they will receive absolutely nothing tangible, concrete and/or meaningful in exchange, just more promises, platitudes and worthless pieces of paper, all of which will be broken and ignored just as soon as Israel's enemies have consolidated their gains and calculate that the time is ripe to put forth their NEXT set of demands.
The Golan is the modern-day Middle-Eastern military-geopolitical equivalent of the Sudetenland. In both military and political terms Israel's giving it up would be suicidal.
He was elected by delusional fantasists who believed Sharon would snap out of his coma at any second.
The problem is not with greater Israel, but how to achieve a greater Israel.
The biggest problem with his strategy is that he is in retreat. He is not carrying a big stick to go with his soft speech. He has only carrots for the enemies of Israel.
The enemies will play him like a fiddle.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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Sounds like Israel needs Netanyahu now more than ever. He’s been the only leader in recent history who knows what it will take to run a country.
I guess that would include The Almighty..
Memo to Olmerdt Listen, carpetbagger, I believe in a secure and safe Israel, and if that means Greater Israel according to the Biblical boundaries, that is just plain fine with me. Olmert, if you had your way, Israel would shrink to the size of a typical county in the USA, with free access for every Amalekstinian murderer, and Jerusalem desecrated by being the Amalekstinian capital. Olmert, you may kindly go sit on an air hose and turn it on full blast. Signed, a Virginia Gentile who is proud to be a “delusional fantasist”.
'We must choose between Greater Israel or a Jewish state,' he says. MK Livnat: Olmert's words 'delusional for someone at the end of his political rope'... "Today we face the choice between Greater Israel and a Jewish nation – the two are mutually exclusive. They only exist together in the minds of deluded fantasists who misconstrue reality," he said.Olmert should either apologize for that, or be removed from office.
“I’ve lost sympathy for Israel. They’re making their own beds.”
Hard to blame you, but consider that this is a reflection on the leadership, not the people. Granted, people often get the leaders they deserve, but Olmert got in the back door as Sharon’s chief flunky. As bad as Sharon had turned out to be when he executed the “disengagement” from Gaza, Olmert turned out to be 100 times worse. Also, the Israeli political system, often touted as a model of middle east democracy, is just a notch above banana republic in the pantheon of principled governance.
I hope you’ll still pray for the welfare of Israel, if not for her leaders, as in Olmert who is, indeed the supreme putz. IMO the worst ever in Israel by far.
Olmert had better hope Bashar al-Assad has repudiated his family’s dream of a “Greater Syria.”
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