Israel Matzav

What is Olmert smoking and where can I get some?

Back in March when he won the elections, Ehud K. Olmert promised he would never smoke his trademark cigars in the Prime Minister's office. Today, Olmert must be smoking something much better, because he has become really delusional. If you want to 'feel good,' find out what he's smoking. And get me some too.

Today, the day after the hudna went into effect (after thirteen rockets fell in Israel yesterday, seven of them in Sderot), Olmert made what is being billed as a 'major policy address' in Sde Boker (David Ben Gurion's grave) and offered "to withdraw from a large amount of territory, and from the settlements that we established there -something that is very difficult for us." Olmert said he would do so only in exchange for a 'real peace.' Ben Gurion must be rolling over in his grave, and if you look at the picture, it looks like his head is about to come down on Olmert any second now.

Olmert told the Palestinians that "the terror, the violence, the acts of murder and unending attacks on Israeli citizens are liable to lead to us a new painful wave of horrible violence."

He called on them to reject the "uncompromising extremism of your terrorist organizations" and choose a new path.

Referring to Saturday night's declaration of a cease-fire in Gaza, Olmert said that a new path was begun. "We started on a path that I hope will bring us to the goal that we all want to achieve: peace, quiet, and mutual trust," he said.

The prime minister said that if a new Palestinian Authority government accepts the Quartet's conditions fore legitimacy, implement the road map and release Cpl. Gilad Shalit, he would suggest a meeting with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to conduct a "true, open and serious" dialogue between us.

Olmert said that within this framework, and in line with the road map, the Palestinians could establish an independent, viable state with contiguous territory in the West Bank, and have full sovereignty over recognized borders.

He said that within this framework Israel's borders would be established that "would be different from the territory which is now under Israel's control."

According to Olmert, he understood the importance of the release of Palestinian prisoners to the Palestinians, said that with the release of Shalit "Israel would be willing to release many Palestinian prisoners, including those who were sentenced to long prison terms, in order to increase the confidence between us and prove that our hand is outstretched in true peace."

Olmert told the Palestinians that he believed many of them were tired of the high price extremism is exacting on their society. "An end to terror and violence could enable us to present you with a long list of steps that can be done between us," he said.

He stressed that if the Palestinians responded, Israel would significantly reduce the roadblocks, increase freedom of movement, open and improve border crossings for goods and merchandise, and release Palestinian tax revenues held in Israel since Hamas's victory in last January's elections.

The prime minister also said that Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf counties, Egypt and Jordan could play an important supporting role in direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Olmert signaled for the first time a formal positive Israeli response to parts of the 2002 Saudi imitative, and he said that he would invest efforts in furthering relations with Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf nations. He said he was appreciative of their efforts to bring about an end to the violence in the region.

Olmert still doesn't get it. First, this conflict is not about territory - it's about Israel's existence. If this conflict were about territory, Gaza would not have become a terror base when it was gifted to the 'Palestinians' in 2005, and the 'Palestinians' would not be demanding that Israel vacate the towns that border Gaza. After all, those towns are within the 'green line,' and in Olmert's delusional world, the 'Palestinians' make no claim to them.

Second, the hudna that began at 6:00 AM yesterday (subject to its violation) has nothing to do with a 'new path' and everything to do with the IDF's effective fighting against the 'Palestinian' terrorists. The terrorists needed a break to regroup and rearm. They have said so. The IDF has said so. But Ehud K. Olmert, who was never even an officer in the army, thinks he knows better than the IDF. After all, he's a lawyer....

Third, Olmert has nothing to offer that will satisfy the 'Palestinians'. He's a lawyer. Note those carefully chosen words: "the Palestinians could establish an independent, viable state with contiguous territory in the West Bank, and have full sovereignty over recognized borders." But there's an elephant in the living room of the 'Palestinian' state. You see, the 'Palestinians' 'minimalist' demand (for now) is a contiguous 'Palestinian' state reichlet in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. You can't get from Judea or Samaria to Gaza without going through pre-1967 Israel. And of course, the 'Palestinians' don't want to be 'humiliated' with 'inspections' every time they go from one to the other. There's also a second elephant in the living room of the 'Palestinian' state - it's not economically viable whether or not Judea and Samaria are contiguous with Gaza.

Fourth, Olmert says that in return for kidnapped IDF Corporal Gilad Shalit's release, "Israel would be willing to release many Palestinian prisoners, including those who were sentenced to long prison terms, in order to increase the confidence between us and prove that our hand is outstretched in true peace." Forget for a minute that Olmert is just encouraging the next kidnapping. If he's releasing "those who were sentenced to long prison terms," he's releasing convicted murderers. What makes Olmert think they won't return to terrorism and murder?

Fifth, Olmert believes that many of the 'Palestinians' are "tired of the high price extremism is exacting on their society." Really? Where are they? Over 50% of the 'Palestinian' children between the ages of 6 and 11 want to grow up to be suicide 'martyrs'. Do your kids want to God forbid grow up to be 'martyrs'? Do Olmert's? Heck, Olmert's kids won't even fight in the IDF.

Sixth, Olmert says that "if the Palestinians responded, Israel would significantly reduce the roadblocks, increase freedom of movement, open and improve border crossings for goods and merchandise, and release Palestinian tax revenues held in Israel since Hamas's victory in last January's elections." Reduce the roadblocks? Let terrorists back into the country after we finally have a handle on it? Maybe next he'll offer to tear down the 'security fence' that has apparently been somewhat effective in stopping terrorism. And then he's going to release tax revenues to Hamas.... That'll make the Euroweenies happy anyway....

Seventh, Olmert is advocating an 'international conference,' at which Israel will sit across the negotiating table from twenty-two Arab countries, Eurabia, Russia, and the UN - and he will expect George Bush's lame duck State Department to protect him from the wolves? Has he gone mad? And on top of that, he's willing to accept 'parts of' the so-called 'Saudi initiative' (which has only been offered as a whole), which includes the 'right of return' that would innundate Israel with 'Palestinian refugees.' (And that's forgetting for a minute that most 'Palestinians' would not be satisfied by the 'Saudi initiative.')

And the 'Palestinian' response to Olmert's insanity?

As the Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire appeared to be holding up in the Gaza Strip, a leader of the Islamic Jihad in Jenin, Mahmoud Al Saadi, threatened on Monday that his organization would carry out suicide bombings deep inside Israeli territory in response to Israeli violations of the cease-fire in the West Bank.

Al Saadi called on his counterparts in Gaza to reject the fledgling truce unless it covered all the Palestinian territories and warned that his group might launch a suicide attack on Israel.

"We live in the same homeland and it is forbidden to divide our homeland, " he said in a statement.

Popular Resistance Committees spokesman Abu Mijahed also warned that continued attacks in the West Bank would lead to a collapse of the cease-fire.

Recall that the deal never included the West Bank Judea and Samaria.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:07 PM