The IDF’s Intelligence Chief, Gen. Amos Yadlin, told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Sunday that Hamas is acting to perpetrate a large-scale terrorist attack as a means of thwarting the summit. Yadlin explained that Hamas objects to the summit, which will grant international legitimacy to its rival, Fatah. On the other hand, he said, Hamas is trying to lower the flames of this violent rivalry.
At the same time, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert now says that he is no longer working to formulate an “agreement of principles” with Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas. Instead, he hopes to have a “joint declaration of intentions” ready in time for the international Middle East summit two months from now.
Olmert said as much at a meeting of Kadima Party members on Sunday morning, prior to the weekly Cabinet meeting.
The weekly Makor Rishon newspaper reported ten days ago that Olmert was working on a new approach – one that would obligate Israel even if the summit itself – sponsored and promoted by the United States – does not produce an agreement. Olmert was striving to reach a document of principles on which he and Abu Mazen would agree to use as the basis for their future negotiations. Such principles, Makor Rishon reported, included the following:
the division of Jerusalem into Jewish and Arab cities, and the removal of Israeli sovereignty from the Temple Mount. (As Mayor of Jerusalem in the 1990s, Olmert earned much political capital when he accused his political rival, then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak, of wanting to divide Jerusalem.) the establishment of a Palestinian state on approximately 95% of Judea and Samaria “border changes” – i.e., a hand-over of other Israeli territory to make up for three settlement blocs (Ariel, Maaleh Adumim, Gush Etzion) that is to remain in Israeli hands
Israel’s declarative assumption of responsibility for the formation of the Arab refugee problem of 1948, though without operative ramifications Makor Rishon reported that it was unclear whether the PA had agreed to Israel’s cardinal demand that the agreement would represent the end of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Another version of the above was published by the PA’s Maan news agency last week, and included the clause that the evacuation of Judea and Samaria would begin immediately after the summit – just two months from now. However, this version was denied by both Israel and the PA.
Now, however, Olmert says that no “agreement of principles” at all will be ready in time for the upcoming summit, but rather just a “joint declaration of intentions.” This, then, might not obligate Israel in the future.
Just in case, however, nationalist camp leaders are calling upon Opposition Leader Binyamin Netanyahu to declare that he will not be bound by Olmert’s agreements. Netanyahu is the current front-runner to be Israel’s next Prime Minister whenever elections are ultimately held. He is being asked to undermine Olmert’s plans by going on record as saying he will not fulfill any commitments he feels are dangerous to Israel’s existence.
Netanyahu has not yet made any such statement.
Olmert has said that he will bring any agreement he reaches with Abbas to the government for its approval, and that the Knesset can ask to debate the issue as well. He did not say whether Knesset approval would be necessary.
On the other hand, it is known that Olmert worked to keep the negotiations as secret as possible, hoping to avoid any public discourse and debate. For this reason, no rough copies or interim documents were formu
I do not understand Prime Minister Olmert’s reasoning. It seems to me that after God sent judgment on Ariel Sharon for giving up GAZA, that Olmert would see the “Handwriting on the Wall.” How can Olmert not recognize that he is walking the same tight rope that Sharon walked….There is no safety net waiting for Olmert!
I fear the Most High God. Yes, He is loving, compassionate, merciful, and long suffering…but their comes a time when God will say: “Enough is Enough!”
How can Olmert not reverence and respect the Word of God. It is LIFE!
I have followed B. Netanyahu since 1992. I truly believe He would not give away/divide Israel’s Land. I believe he is playing his cards close, so as not to give away all of his plans. I believe that were he to ascend again to become Prime Minister, the world would begin to show respect for the Nation and Land of Israel, because they would recognize Israel once again has strong leadership, and can no longer be backed into a corner and made to appear and act “wimpy-fied!”
There is a saying: “What you do not irradicate when you are strong, will comeback to destroy you when you are weak”….We are to take up the Sword (of the Spirit) and cut off Everything in our lives and our Nations—Israel and America!—that are not of God. This is a person by person/family by family/nation by nation charge….We would do well to take this saying very seriously—-
The more we back down….the weaker we not only appear to our enemies…..but the weaker we become.
I do not understand Prime Minister Olmert’s reasoning. It seems to me that after God sent judgment on Ariel Sharon for giving up GAZA, that Olmert would see the “Handwriting on the Wall.” How can Olmert not recognize that he is walking the same tight rope that Sharon walked….There is no safety net waiting for Olmert!
I fear the Most High God. Yes, He is loving, compassionate, merciful, and long suffering…but their comes a time when God will say: “Enough is Enough!”
How can Olmert not reverence and respect the Word of God. It is LIFE!
I have followed B. Netanyahu since 1992. I truly believe He would not give away/divide Israel’s Land. I believe he is playing his cards close, so as not to give away all of his plans. I believe that were he to ascend again to become Prime Minister, the world would begin to show respect for the Nation and Land of Israel, because they would recognize Israel once again has strong leadership, and can no longer be backed into a corner and made to appear and act “wimpy-fied!”
There is a saying: “What you do not irradicate when you are strong, will comeback to destroy you when you are weak”….We are to take up the Sword (of the Spirit) and cut off Everything in our lives and our Nations—Israel and America!—that are not of God. This is a person by person/family by family/nation by nation charge….We would do well to take this saying very seriously—-
The more we back down….the weaker we not only appear to our enemies…..but the weaker we become.
R Renee
You are dead right there.
This should become a focus for all Jews in America and everywhere and for revolutionary socialists too.
This summit is the reordering of the world by the US Government, where it will follow its agenda of destroying Israel by creating aFascist Palestinian state
R Renee
You are dead right there.
This should become a focus for all Jews in America and everywhere and for revolutionary socialists too.
This summit is the reordering of the world by the US Government, where it will follow its agenda of destroying Israel by creating aFascist Palestinian state
Is there a protest scheduled for this summit in November? If not there should be. If yes, someone please let me know. Thanks
Is there a protest scheduled for this summit in November? If not there should be. If yes, someone please let me know. Thanks