Israel Matzav

Olmert puts Livni between a rock and a hard place

Eventually resigning Prime Minister Ehud K. Olmert is trying to back foreign minister 'Tzipora' Livni into a corner. Olmert is attempting to negotiate an 'understanding' with 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen so as to box in his successor. But if he 'succeeds,' he will agree to divide Jeursalem and that will likely force Shas to resign from the government, precipitating the new elections that Livni so much wants to avoid. And so, Livni - who is actually even more radical and power-hungry than Olmert - doesn't want Olmert to negotiate an 'understanding' that will result in her never being Prime Minister.

Abu Mazen apparently is not willing to play along. Israel Radio reported Sunday morning on an assessment in Washington that Abu Mazen has taken uncompromising positions because he does not want to cut a deal with Olmert and Bush (although the US still doesn't understand that Abu Mazen doesn't intend to compromise on anything). And the Jerusalem Post is reporting that Olmert has denied attempting to reach an 'understanding' on a 'shelf agreement' (which YNet reports that the 'Palestinians' will not agree to anyway). The cabinet is allegedly 'furious.'

Ministers expressed their anger during Sunday's cabinet meeting at Olmert's reported plan to try and convince Abbas to sign a document outlining all the clauses in which agreements had been reached in peace talks thus far.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Olmert must not accelerate the peace process unnecessarily.

"We must not let the pressure of time cause us to make one of two grave mistakes: To try and bridge the wide gaps in a manner that will lead to a collapse, or to compromise on issues critical to Israel just to achieve results," she said.

...

Public Security Minister Avi Dichter also criticized Olmert, saying he was negotiating with the Palestinians without the backing of ministers and without updating them.

He expressed concern over the document Olmert was seeking to sign, particularly in light of the fact that the prime minister was likely to end his term in two weeks, while Abbas may be replaced in four months.

Prior to Sunday's cabinet meeting, Labor, Trade and Industry Minister Eli Yishai lamented the fact that he was getting most of the details about the peace talks from the media. He also said Olmert had no legal or moral right to sign any agreement with the Palestinians.

"Olmert cannot reach an agreement in any field, particularly not those concerning Jerusalem," Yishai told Army Radio.

Nevertheless, ministers Ami Ayalon, Ghaleb Majadle, Gideon Ezra and Ze'ev Boim expressed their support for the prime minister's attempts to advance peace talks.

So why isn't Abu Mazen playing along? Because he knows that Olmert and Bush cannot deliver the goods, and because he knows that if Livni is - God forbid - elected he will get more. Much more. But Livni has to stop Olmert or she will never have the opportunity to give everything away. She has to hope that Abu Mazen keeps playing hard to get. And she has to keep accusing Olmert of 'rushing' to an agreement that will never be implemented.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:30 PM