Posted on 02/22/2009 6:44:46 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert went on a rampage during yesterday's cabinet meeting, lashing out at targets as varied as tennis star Andy Ram, comedian Lior Shlein, Israeli rightists and the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute.
The official topic of the meeting was the institute's annual report assessing Israel's situation and that of the Jewish people as a whole. But as institute director Avinoam Bar-Yosef was finishing his presentation of the report's main findings, Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann passed a note to Olmert drawing his attention to page 31 of the document, which stated that Israel's leadership was about to change due to "its ongoing corruption problem." The report declared that Olmert's resignation last fall constituted "a depressing climax to the parade of corruption in the senior echelons" of government and expressed hope that "out of the ruins of the Olmert government, perhaps a cleaner political culture will emerge."
Olmert read this passage and erupted. "This is none of Diaspora Jewry's business and none of the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute's business," he shouted. "On what basis do you conclude this? I haven't been charged with anything yet; these are only suspicions. And former president [Moshe] Katsav" - whose case the report also cited - "has also yet to be indicted."
Olmert was further outraged by a passage declaring that Diaspora Jews viewed the Second Lebanon War as a failure. "What are you talking about?" he demanded. "I can bring military experts who will prove that the war brought us great achievements. Who appointed you? Why are you sticking your nose into these matters, and on what basis do you draw these conclusions? Why don't you tell the truth? That's what happens when you let people who hide behind curtains write a report."
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
Omert flails at the truth.
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