Newsflash: Olmert grows a pair - finally

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem on February 15, 2009. Israel's security cabinet voted on Wednesday to condition a Gaza truce on the release of a captive soldier, a move that risked further complicating Egyptian efforts to broker a lasting ceasefire.(AFP/Emil Salman)

Can Israel afford any more "Goodwill" to Abbas?

By DIAA HADID, Associated Press Writer Mon Aug 18, 11:44 AM ET
JERUSALEM - Israel said Monday it will free two of its most prominent Palestinian prisoners — a militant mastermind from the 1970s and a gunman elected to parliament while behind bars — among 199 inmates to be released as a goodwill gesture to embattled Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
While the move will give an important boost to the moderate Abbas, it drew fierce criticism from some Israeli politicians, who said it could undermine attempts to free a captured Israeli soldier held in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

What has Israel gained? Is there a limit to goodwill?

Merchandising where the real money is

Last update - 22:35 02/06/2008 Olmert to Abbas: PA bid to curb our Europe ties 'unacceptable' By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies Tags: Ehud Olmert, Peace, Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday protested to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas efforts by his government to curb Israel's burgeoning relations with Europe and the international community. At the meeting at Olmert's Jerusalem residence, the prime minister mentioned letters sent by Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in which Fayyad requested they not upgrade ties with Israel in light of ongoing settlement building, and lack of progress in peace talks. Olmert told Abbas: "This is completely unacceptable to us, and does not represent the relations today between the sides, and returns us to the negative rhetoric of the preceding period." He was referring to the hostilities of the second intifada when the Palestinian Authority was under the control of its late chairman Yasser Arafat. For their part, the Palestinians at the meeting condemned the government's approval for plans to build nearly 900 additional homes for Israelis in east Jerusalem.
So basically the Arabs can continue terrorized and kill even after retreating from Lebanon, retreating from Gaza and offering them 1/2 of Jerusalem, 90% of Yehuda/Shomron, and giving back the Golan. BUT don't mess with commerce. That's a real redline.

"Look how well the disengagement has turned out

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gestures during the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem June 1, 2008. Israel announced plans on Sunday to build hundreds of new homes in an area of the occupied West Bank the Israeli government considers part of Jerusalem, despite U.S. and Palestinian calls to halt settlement expansion.The announcement came two days before Olmert sets off to Washington for a three-day visit where he will meet U.S. President George W. Bush.REUTERS/Baz Ratner (JERUSALEM)

"Calm down, what's all the ruckus? All I want to do is give half of Jerusalem, Yehuda, the Shomron and the Golan. Look how well it turned out since we gave back Gaza and let in Arafat 15 years ago."

What you talkin' 'bout Willis?

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem June 1, 2008. Israel announced plans on Sunday to build hundreds of new homes in an area of the occupied West Bank the Israeli government considers part of Jerusalem, despite U.S. and Palestinian calls to halt settlement expansion. The announcement came two days before Olmert sets off to Washington for a three-day visit where he will meet U.S. President George W. Bush.REUTERS/Baz Ratner (JERUSALEM)

Olmert - ever the perfectionist

Rory McCarthy in JerusalemFriday November 30, 2007The Guardian
Israel's prime minister issued a rare warning yesterday that his nation risked being compared to apartheid-era South Africa if it failed to agree an independent state for the Palestinians. In an interview with the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz, Ehud Olmert said Israel was "finished" if it forced the Palestinians into a struggle for equal rights.
If the two-state solution collapsed, he said, Israel would "face a South African-style struggle for equal voting rights, and as soon as that happens, the state of Israel is finished". Israel's supporters abroad would quickly turn against such a state, he said.

Just when Olmert seems to have outdone himself, he just ups the ante and outdoes himself even more.

Olmert should hang his head in shame

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert attends a memorial ceremony for Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, in Sde Boker, southern Israel November 18, 2007. The United States is pressing Israel to go beyond a planned partial settlement freeze and to raise the number of Palestinian prisoners to be freed before a peace conference, Israeli and Western officials said on Sunday. REUTERS/Gil Cohen Magen (ISRAEL)

Olmert should continue to hang his head in shame. How ironic that the man who wants to willingly hand over Israel is standing and addressing a crowd at a memorial for Ben-Gurion. See how Ben-Gurion is quoted on Israpundit saying that no one has the right to give away any part of Israel. Yet Olmert speaks and continues to give away Israel.

Gaza is already Jew-free

Israel to freeze Gaza expansion
AFP
Published:Nov 15, 2007
TEL AVIV - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will announce a freeze in West Bank settlement expansion as a gesture towards the Palestinians at a US peace meeting this month, a senior official said today.

There are no more Jews in Gaza. Israel already made Gaza Jew-free in 2005. So, as of now, there will be no more Jewish expansion in Gaza. Get them a map and a clue. The West Bank and Gaza are two different areas run by two completely different terror organizations ( maybe that's how the SA Times mixed up the two areas). Get your terror organizations and the areas that they control correct.

Olmert's new outline

1. "We won't hold negotiations on our existence as a Jewish state, this is a launching point for all negotiations," Olmert said.

2. The first stage of the road map calls on the Palestinians to dismantle terror groups. The sides had agreed recently that talks would proceed according to the document. In recent weeks, politicians from the right, especially MK Yisrael Katz (Likud), have taken to accusing the government of holding negotiations outside of road map dictates.

Olmert essentially confirmed those accusations. "There is a new outline," he said. "The traditional position has been that there will be no road map implementation without the first phase. I came to the conclusion that we are somewhat able to change the tradition."

Another new line in the sand. And just like the last one (the PA was to remove terrorists and terrorism from their midsts) was redrawn so too can this one be redrawn.

The only good about this is that it gets down to the basic issue issue - the existential existence of a Jewish country in the middle east. It the heart, brain and soul of the Arab-Israeli conflict. All the LFP ideas (land for peace) blew the ship off course. So far the PFP policy has led to continuing death and destruction via terrorism. It's more aptly named LFT - Land For Terrorism. The issue is much deeper than a game of Monopoly.

Yes, Olmert if you talk like a clown...

By Dion Nissenbaum, McClatchy Newspapers Mon Oct 29, 10:24 AM ET
JERUSALEM — The last time Israeli leaders sat down for meaningful peace talks with Palestinian negotiators, then- Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert led a march around the Old City's ancient walls to protest any plans to divide his adopted home.

Olmert in 2000...

"No concessions on Jerusalem ," Olmert said on the eve of the 2000 Camp David summit. "For 33 years, Israel has said there will never be a compromise on Jerusalem . Do you think we were joking?"

Olmert in 2007...

Bouncy, Bouncy...