Shalom from Jerusalem
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Read the magnificent words of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the occasion of Israel's 60th.
Read an inspiring article on the way in which Israel chooses life.
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Posting: May 16, 2008
"Irony"
For all his confusion, his desire to see us pull back so that Abbas can have a state that is not "Swiss cheese," President Bush came through yesterday in his address to the Knesset, for which he has been much praised:
"The Jewish people endured the agony of the pogroms, the tragedy of the Great War, and the horror of the Holocaust...Soulless men took away lives and broke apart families. Yet they could not take away the spirit of the Jewish people, and they could not break the promise of G-d.
".....What followed was more than the establishment of a new country. It was the redemption of an ancient promise given to Abraham and Moses and David -- a homeland for the chosen people: Eretz Yisrael.
As he spoke of a US-Israel relationship "grounded in the shared spirit of our people, the bonds of the Book, the ties of the soul," many lamented the lack of such words from our own leaders.
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What did Olmert talk about:
"This visit provided another important opportunity for us to discuss the advancement of a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in accordance with your vision, Mr. President, of two states for two peoples. Your personal involvement, and the commendable efforts of the Secretary of State, Ms. Condoleezza Rice, is vital for the success of the intensive negotiations taking place between us and the Palestinians."
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Bush, rooted solidly in his own religious tradition , is able to speak words unabashedly and easily that Israeli leaders, in the main, are not comfortable with. We have not moved past our trauma, we are too eager to be accommodating (fawning), and, sadly, still too unsure yet of who we are and what rights accrue to us.
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There were a handful of members of the Knesset who walked out as Olmert spoke. And there was anger because he assured Bush that this body, this Knesset, would approve a peace agreement when it came. He has no right to speak in the names of the MKs, and in fact would face considerable opposition.
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Haaretz is saying that people from Olmert's office believe that Bush might carry out an operation against Iran in the coming months. They report themselves well satisfied with Bush's attitude in private talks on the subject. Excellent, if so.
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But at any rate, the Bush visit is over now, and it's back to business (and, thank goodness, Jerusalem traffic unencumbered by the jams caused by security).
Defense officials are saying that once Bush leaves (today) there will be a military escalation in Gaza.
What is of note is that even though several other top IDF officials have been pushing for a major operation in Gaza, until now Chief of Staff Ashkenazi has been reluctant. One cannot help but wonder what the political considerations were, for it is his head that would roll if things went sour. But now, with the attacks that have come in the last week, reports are that he is more inclined to recommend a ground incursion deep into Gaza.
With this all, I still retain my "wait and see" stance. For Barak is due to go into Egypt this coming week and will discuss that ceasefire -- a ceasefire that Olmert may still be inclined to accept. Olmert himself is scheduled to go to Egypt the week after.
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The barrage continues. Last night three Kassam fell in Sderot, one on a synagogue.
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The two-year old girl who was injured by the Katyusha in Ashkelon, had been lying unconscious in the hospital. Now the glad news is that Tair Afgin has regained consciousness, although she still requires surgery to remove shrapnel from her head.
The child's father, Adi, told YNet that the family would not even consider relocating to a different city. “We’ll go back to Ashkelon for now. The city needs our support. We don’t believe running away is the solution...It only encourages terrorism."
It is because of such people of courage that we will win.
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The High Court has rejected the request of Olmert that he be permitted to appeal the decision allowing court testimony to be taken from Talansky before the indictment on Olmert has been served. The testimony will be taken in 9 days.
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Much more after Shabbat. I close with a link to a site that provides a glowing picture of Israeli scientific achievements in 2008 (with thanks to Micki Lewis for calling my attention to this):
http://www.perspectives.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=175077&forum_id=90
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Posting: May 15, 2008
"Nakba"
The Nakba is the purported "catastrophe" for the Arabs brought on by the founding of Israel. They have been "commemorating" the 60th Nakba for some days now, but today is the official day, when thousands are marching in Judea and Samaria, Gaza and Lebanon. Sirens have sounded and thousands of black balloons, signifying mourning, have been released.
Where Palestinians rallying close to the Gaza crossings became rowdy, IDF troops -- which were watching in anticipation of threatened trouble -- released tear gas and shot live bullets in the air.
This "commemoration" will continue tomorrow.
The true nakba, of course, is the failure of the Palestinian Arab community to accept our existence as a Jewish state, and to make peace with us.
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Mahmoud Abbas spoke today at a rally , and he spoke, ostensibly, on behalf of peace. "After 60 years, I say again that our hands our extended for peace, that is our strategic choice."
Sounds great, until you examine his words and associated actions more closely.
For Abbas also said:
"Israel has failed in wiping out the memory of the Nakba from the minds of successive Palestinian generations. They [Israel] thought that perhaps the elderly would forget. But today we see that neither the elderly nor the young have forgotten. Everyone remembers the Nakba."
The reason they haven't forgotten the Nakba, of course, is because of the policies promoted by UNRWA for 60 years. The UN High Commission for Refugees -- which cares for all refugees in the world except Palestinians -- promotes a policy of getting refugees settled in a new permanent life quickly, which means sometimes settling them in a new country if they cannot return home.
But UNRWA has declared for all of these years that Palestinians who left the founding state of Israel are to be considered refugees -- even if they have new citizenship and have succeeded in their lives in other ways -- until they and their children and grandchildren "return" to Israel. For 60 years, the Palestinian "refugees" have been kept in legal and emotional limbo and told that their inability to get on with their lives is Israel's fault.
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I quite assure you that the promotion of return was not for peaceful purposes. It was designed quite openly as a way to destroy Israel from within. Were -- G-d forbid -- 4.5 million Palestinians who call themselves refugees, a vast number of whom have been radicalized, to enter Israel, it would finish us as a Jewish state.
And so, if Abbas talks Nakba even as he talks peace , what is it that he truly has in mind?
He speaks about stopping the growth of settlements and building in eastern Jerusalem, which he says destroys the hope of peace. The implication is that were we to withdraw to the Green Line, there could be peace.
But the Nakba mourns the founding of the state WITHIN the Green Line. Yet, he doesn't say that it's time to release this mourning and to enter a new day, with building of a state at Israel's side. He promotes the Nakba.
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And here is the clincher: He, along with other Palestinians at the rally, signed a document today that pledges to continue the "struggle" until all of the refugees have been permitted to return. This is reliable information, as it comes from Khaled Abu Toameh of the Post.
There is a wealth of material that gives evidence to the fact that Abbas is not a partner for peace. But every now and then some incident arises that makes the case so blatantly, so strongly, that no other documentation is needed.
Abbas's signing of this document is such an incident . He is not promoting a two-state solution, but rather Israel's destruction as a Jewish state. What is more, the term "struggle" is a euphemism for terrorism and violence. He is not even promoting the return of all refugees via peaceful means.
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I would like to point out that, although I believe Abbas, himself, truly does favor "return," he would have no option other than to support it in any event. The Palestinian political discourse is being set by Hamas -- that discourse has radicalized over the last few years with the growing influence of Hamas. If Abbas values his life (quite literally), he cannot promote compromise on this issue.
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This information needs to be shoved under the faces of both Bush and Olmert, who, in spite of all the evidence, continue to promote the notion that peace arrived at via compromise with the Palestinians is possible now.
I wrote yesterday about the Bush plan to get us to agree to contiguous borders for a Palestinian state -- borders satisfactory to Abbas, which would then encourage him to modify his stance on refugees, which is considered the "hot" issue. Abbas's actions today expose the nonsense inherent in this plan.
While Olmert, for his part, has his own new plan , in which the control of Jerusalem (which is identified by him as the most problematic issue) would be tabled until later, while all of the other issues were negotiated first. What we see, however, is that the issue of refugees is not about to be negotiated away.
What we see, in fact, is that attempting to negotiate a Palestinian state, with resolution of all of these issues, is simply an impossibility.
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The Jerusalem Post has an editorial today , "Is it about borders?" that I recommend. It details the history of our relationship with the Palestinians and what they've rejected over the years, making it clear that indeed borders is not the issue. This is an answer to Bush, and his suggestion that if we decide on those borders all the rest will fall into place.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1210668636834&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
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I'm going to pass at this point on further discussion of the Olmert investigation. It is still very much ongoing. But it becomes tedious to continue to focus on the minutiae of who was questioned, who accused whom of what, etc. etc. As there are major happenings, I will share.
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More talk without sufficient action. Barak has told the people of Ashkelon, "You guys need to bite your lips, but not for [long]." What that really means, is anyone's guess. There are those who believe that even in the face of all that has transpired, this government will find excuses as to why it's not the "right time" for a major operation.
All we've seen in response to what happened yesterday is the IDF targeting of one rocket launching cell, which killed two people.
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Alex Fishman, writing an opinion piece in YNet addresses this pathetic pattern of behavior:
"The truth is they [government officials] fear yet another military failure, lack of consensus, and commissions of inquiries. They recognize the need [for military action in Gaza] but easily give in to excuses. They’re watching their behinds.
"So...tomorrow morning, or maybe in two days they will do something in order to placate public opinion. They will explain to us that it cannot go on...that we’re reaching the moment of decision, and all the other clichés. Yet in a few days they will find another convenient excuse for restraint: ...we must not undermine Egypt’s president, Lebanon is burning, etc. This is not how a state should be managed. It looks more like a political science seminar rather than a government that knows what it wants."
And Fishman even has ideas about what might be done, short of an all-out invasion of Gaza, that would be more effective:
"As of Wednesday night, the Air Force should have been operating across the Strip against known targets, without a time limit. It should have been operating in a way that Thursday, Nakba Day, nobody in Gaza would have dared be outside. Hamas government offices, positions, and warehouse should be flying in the air. Hamas leaders, instead of delivering speeches today, should fear for their lives."
If only someone were listening.
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More pertinent still, is anyone listening to IDF Intelligence chief Amos Yadlin?
He has now told Haaretz that Hamas now has in its possession several dozen rockets capable of striking targets in a radius of 20 kilometers.
"...every community within a 40-kilometer range may come within range of the Hamas rockets: Ashdod, Kiryat Gat, even Beersheba....
"If this matter is not dealt with , Hamas will bring more cities within its range of fire."
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At least we have rejected a request conveyed to the Ministry of Defense by Rice flunky, I mean American security coordinator, Lt.-Gen. Keith Dayton that PA security forces receive personal armor kits, night-vision goggles and electronic communication systems. This is because it would come too close to establishing parity between our security forces and theirs -- we must retain superiority.
However, there is consideration being given to turning security over to the PA in Tulkarm, Kalkilya and Hebron, if the experiment in Jenin, which was the brainchild of Tony Blair, is successful. There have been 600 troops, trained in Jordan, put in place in the Jenin area, with 400 more to follow. The IDF retains over-all coordination, and the right to go in after a "smoking gun."
"In other cases, Israel will transfer the names of wanted men to the PA security forces, and if the PA forces do not arrest those wanted, the IDF will be able to do so."
Defense officials said the PA forces were enforcing law and order but could not (yet?) be depended upon to go after terrorists.
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Let me close with an extraordinary piece that talks about the fact that "by objective measures, Israel is the happiest nation on earth.
"...most remarkable is that Israelis appear to love life and hate death more than any other nation."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JE13Ak01.html
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Posting: May 14, 2008
"Intolerable"
The entire situation here.
Many things that call for discussion can be put aside until tomorrow. I would like here to touch only upon the most intolerable elements of our situation.
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President Bush arrived this morning, bringing with him (incredibly!) a contingent of 100 prominent American Jews, all of whom seem to think it's just peachy keen that the president is promoting those "peace negotiations" with Abbas.
Bush was, of course, welcomed with the most lavish praise from the heads of our government. And Bush, for his part, expressed great admiration for us and pledged undying friendship.
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It is important, however, to take a closer look at what Bush has said, and what he is advocating.
He has a plan, you see: He thinks that we need to set our borders once and for all, and that this will help move things along. The borders? Well, you can't give the Palestinians "Swiss cheese" for a state and expect them to be happy. If we're going to make those Palestinians happy, they have to be offered a contiguous state.
And what of the Bush commitment to our retention of major settlement blocs, presumably incorporated into the letter he had written to Sharon? As Post editor David Horovitz wrote, after interviewing Bush: "On borders, Swiss cheese trumps a 4-year old letter."
Horovitz reports that Bush said: "We... try to make sure that the Palestinians understand that we believe in the contiguous state...How can you have a hopeful place if you're not really in charge of a contiguous territory?... It won't be a viable state."
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Just the other day I wrote about how sometimes I report on a situation, and how, almost before my eyes, it will metamorphose into something else. It's not long since Abbas came back from his meeting with Bush very depressed because he learned that the president wasn't going to push us on the settlements. Then I wrote that just possibly Bush would come through on his commitment given to Sharon.
How does that dovetail with what Bush is saying now? Not terribly well. Many analysts see Rice's influence here.
But there's more to the plan. Once Abbas is happy about those borders, it is reasoned, he may be willing to compromise on the issue of "right of return."
Unfortunately, Rice has a short memory , because (as I reported here) not long ago Jordan's King Abdullah warned her that if Abbas were pushed into a compromise such as this, his life would be in danger. Abbas, even if he wanted to, does not have the latitude to give away what the Palestinians see as a key "right." Hamas is breathing down his neck.
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Bush made a statement today about US loyalty to Israel. In part, it went like this: "...we will stand with Israel against the nuclear threat." And I ponder what that means. To me it sounds like: You take care of it, and we'll be right behind you. The only tolerable statement would be one that pledges in simple terms not to let Iran go nuclear.
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We endured another terrorist attack today. This was a Grad Katyusha, shot at a shopping mall in Ashkelon. Fifteen were wounded, including three seriously, when a part of the roof caved in. Among those seriously injured were a mother and her three-year old daughter.
Intolerable indeed!
This was surely timed by terrorists (Islamic Jihad claimed credit) for Bush's visit. In several places, including in Judea and Samaria, there were protests at Bush's coming to celebrate our independence.
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Olmert was just concluding a meeting with Bush when the attack occurred. Olmert's subsequent comment was not easy to swallow:
"We will not be able to tolerate continuous attacks on innocent civilians. We hope we will not have to act against Hamas in other ways with the military power that Israel hasn't yet started to use in a serious manner in order to stop it."
We will not be able to tolerate? We have BEEN tolerating, shamefully. We hope we won't have to act? What kind of nonsensical, empty threat is that? We must act. And note: military power that Israel hasn't yet started to use in a serious manner. In the name of all those suffering under the rocket barrages, I ask, and why not??
Channel two cited an unnamed Israeli official as saying, "We are on a certain path of an extensive military confrontation with Hamas." So, when already?
Information is that the IDF is ready and only awaits political go-ahead.
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And this, heaven help us , was Bush's comment on the attack:
"We believe that the surest way to defeat the enemies...is to advance the cause of hope, the cause of freedom, liberty as the great alternative to tyranny and terror."
Will someone please tell this man that the only way to defeat tyranny and terror is by defeating it, not by bringing "hope." Once upon a time, he seemed to know this.
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And the last intolerable of this report:
In a conference in the Egyptian parliament , Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosni is reported to have said that he "would burn Israeli books himself if found in Egyptian libraries."
This is going to put a considerable strain on our relationship with Egypt.
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Posting: May 13, 2008
"Inconsistencies"
I can only report the information as it comes to me. But sometimes I take a look at the news and am startled at how different it seems from what I shared just 24 hours ago, or less.
Yesterday Olmert and Barak were reported as telling Suleiman that the deal for a ceasefire with Hamas was insufficient and not acceptable as is. Today, the whole story sounds different, as it is being reported that Israel is leaning towards that ceasefire -- to be instituted slowly.
The words of Mark Regev, Olmert's spokesman, perhaps tell the story: "Israel cannot continue to tolerate the daily barrage of rockets, so either the attacks will cease or Israel will have to stop them. We don't have a great desire to escalate in the south, and if it is possible to achieve calm, that is obviously our preference."
Actually, it is not so obvious, because this solution is short-sighted. Hamas will be strengthening and there will be a price to pay for this quiet down the road.
Be that as it may, apparently there will be no military response to the lethal attack yesterday -- sort of a "good faith" gesture.
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But even now there are conflicting reports. On the one hand some officials are said to be hopeful that, in the words of one: "If the initiative is successful - it may be the answer to how we block Hamas's growing strength while preventing arms smuggling across the border and furthermore, this could mean good news on the Palestinians' willingness to compromise on the Shalit deal."
This has a very "pie-in-the-sky" feel to it. Hamas is intent on our destruction. The ceasefire, such as it may be, would not be the first step in permanent cessation of hostilities that would lead to peace with Hamas. It is intended by Hamas to be temporary, because right now they're hurting and want to be stronger before they come at us again. This is built into their ideology.
Even if the smuggling is stopped by Egypt -- a stretch in itself -- Hamas has military people who were trained in Iran and who will be training others to make their army stronger, and they are doing refinement and building of weapons inside of Gaza.
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On the other hand, there are those who believe that Hamas will never agree to compromise on the terms for release of Shalit as part of a ceasefire deal, and that this will give us the out we need. For there is another factor at play here: the government is afraid that Hamas, which is offering the interlude of quiet, will appear "peaceful" while we, refusing to accept it, will appear "warlike." If they refuse on Shalit, we can say that we had good intentions but it was Hamas that did not come through.
And right now this looks like the way things will play out. While, admittedly, Suleiman has not gone back yet to talk with them again, today Hamas is saying that they'll continue to hit us hard unless we agree to the ceasefire, and that there will be no talk about Shalit until after we have agreed to that ceasefire, i.e., it will not be part of the ceasefire deal.
If we agree to a ceasefire without a deal on Shalit, after we had insisted this had to be part of the agreement, we will be showing weakness and surrendering deterrence. Hamas has to sue for quiet, not us.
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There is a mixed message in another quarter as well. There have been reports indicating that Bush was likely to bring "gifts" with him when he arrives tomorrow. I just reported, for example, on the possibility that we might receive radar more sensitive than what we now have.
US officials, however, are playing down this possibility . While there have been intensive talks in recent months between top Israeli defense officials and the Pentagon and White House, regarding Israeli receipt of cutting edge US equipment -- most notably the F22 stealth bomber that can avoid radar -- in order to maintain Israeli's qualitative military edge and prepare us for dealing with Iran, they are saying Bush won't be closing any deals on his largely ceremonial visit.
Israeli officials continue to be of a different mind.
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Investigation update: The police, warrant in hand, went into City Hall yesterday afternoon in search of documents from the time that Olmert was mayor.
Talansky has been questioned again , under caution, by the National Fraud Unit. He has already admitted that he gave envelopes filled with cash to Olmert. Now there is consideration going on of favors that Olmert may have done for him: possible rezoning of land for the benefit of Talansky's associates, possible installation of speed bumps in the area where Talansky's son lives, after he complained that traffic was dangerous for his grandchildren. Remember, however, that certain benefits do not have to be proved to make the case for bribe -- the money can be a hedge against the possible need for favors down the road.
I had been under the impression that Talansky was remaining in the country voluntarily, to cooperate, but apparently this is not the case. For now I read that the State may extend the "hold departure order" on him.
Talansky is due to leave the country on May 21. According to Haaretz, investigators are hoping to first do in-depth questioning of Olmert, followed by the early testimony of Talansky, before then. They are concerned that plans for Olmert's travel will interfere with the schedule for questioning him.
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Posting: May 12, 2008
"Inspiration"
Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, delivered a speech for Israel's 60th. It is so extraordinary that I must lead off with this today:
"All of my life, Israel has been a symbol – a symbol of the triumph of hope and faith. After 1945, our battered world desperately needed to be lifted out of post-war darkness and despair. After so much pain and suffering, humanity needed comfort and optimism. After so much death and destruction, we needed renewal – the renewal of the dream of a better and more civilized world. In short, we needed to be inspired. It was the people who had suffered who most provided that inspiration. By their example, they led the world back to the light. From shattered Europe and other countries near and far, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob made their way home. Their pilgrimage was the culmination of a two-thousand-year-old dream; it is a tribute to the unquenchable human aspiration for freedom, and a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Jewish people.
"In the sixty years that followed, Israel blossomed into one of the most successful countries on earth; a land of ingenuity and enterprise, an oasis of agricultural genius, a wellspring of fine art and high culture, a model of democracy. Israel truly is the 'miracle in the desert.'
"But the source of Israel’s strength and success , in my view, is its commitment to the universal values of all civilized peoples: freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law...
"Unfortunately, Israel at 60 remains a country under threat – threatened by those groups and regimes who deny to this day its right to exist. And why? Make no mistake; look beyond the thinly-veiled rationalizations: because they hate Israel, just as they hate the Jewish people. Our government believes that those who threaten Israel also threaten Canada, because, as the last world war showed, hate-fuelled bigotry against some is ultimately a threat to us all, and must be resisted wherever it may lurk.
"In this ongoing battle, Canada stands side-by-side with the State of Israel, our friend and ally in the democratic family of nations. We have stood with Israel even when it has not been popular to do so, and we will continue to stand with Israel, just as I have always said we would...
"There will be many challenges along the way , but considering how far Israel has come in such a short time, in the face of such seemingly insurmountable odds, I can foresee no dark force, no matter how strong, that could succeed in dimming the light of freedom and democracy that shines from within Israel."
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How rare in this highly politicized and twisted world is such unqualified support. Imagine how different our position would be if other world leaders spoke similarly. PM Harper is to be saluted.
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Ted Belman has posted the entire speech at Israpundit:
http://www.israpundit.com/2008/?p=989
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What I ask is that you take the time to thank Prime Minister Harper by writing to him at pm@pm.gc.ca .
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As to the Olmert investigation, I begin today by saying that I have never in my life encountered so many innocent people. No one did anything. At least, that is what they are working vigorously to have us believe.
The former director of the New Jerusalem Foundation , Zvi Raviv, for example, expressed bewilderment as to why this non-profit organization, which does good work, should be involved in the investigation at all. Never mind that Olmert and Messer founded it and Talansky was made treasurer. Or that the Post reported eight years ago that there were suspicions about use for campaign purposes of money from this foundation (which had not yet registered in Israel as a non-profit and in 1999 failed to report millions in contributions).
"We support those with special needs, children , and teenagers," said an NJF spokesman. "We fund dance centers, libraries in schools, provide help for the deaf, and holiday food packages." Bringing up the name of the foundation was "unjustified." "The police are not interested in the foundation."
While Talansky gave an interview on Channel 10 TV , in which he said that Olmert asked for campaign donations, just as other Israelis were asking, and that he gave for the pure joy of giving and helping an Israeli candidate. If Olmert asked, he assumed it was legal.
Talansky is adamant that he never bribed Olmert . As to that quote about being afraid something will be done to him because of his testimony, he says they are making a big deal out of what was only an off-hand remark.
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The investigation at this point is reportedly focusing on possible bribery, rather than illegal campaign contributions. What has been discovered is that he took large sums of money while he was minister of industry, trade and labor -- and had no need for campaign funds -- in a time frame around 2005.
The term "soft money" is being bandied about , but I will not attempt to grapple with whatever legal meaning it has here in Israel. In the US it refers, broadly, to political donations made in such a way as to avoid federal regulations or limits.
Here the implication is that rules for what can be accepted from foreign nationals for a campaign did not apply, as Olmert wasn't running for office -- that the money went to Likud and not Olmert, or to pay his previous campaign debts, or towards future campaigns. Remember, the law applies to donations to a candidate in the nine months before an election.
According to Haaretz, an official connected with the investigation explained that: "There's no doubt that Olmert is trying to pull the investigation in a certain direction, of collecting funds for elections."
"But," says the official, "in contrast to the impression Olmert is trying to create, the investigation team is currently focusing precisely on the period when there were no elections, and there was no apparent justification for collecting funds for an election campaign." This official, Haaretz reports, says that the police suspect Olmert of having received envelopes of cash that cannot be accounted for.
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According to another source involved in the probe , who was also cited by Haaretz :
"The investigators are currently focusing on reinforcing suspicions that are relatively easy to verify....They are dealing with the period during which it is possible to unearth findings that will strengthen the suspicions against Olmert...
"During the short period being probed so far , the investigators managed to arrange a cross-checking of sources. There are documents, there's Talansky's testimony, there's Messer's testimony - all these findings reinforce the credibility of the other." All evidence is pointing in the same direction.
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YNet reports that according to Major-General (ret.) Borovsky , who headed the anti-corruption department at the State Comptroller's Office and is familiar with details of the current investigation, an indictment is likely to be served. "The police are acting with determination, professionalism and courage in this case."
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Apparently a deposition will be taken from Talansky.
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But, truly, we probably shouldn't worry about any of this, because we have it straight from President Bush in an interview that ran on Channel 10 here: Olmert, he says, is an "honest man." Translation: I want the peace process to proceed and don't want this stuff to get in the way.
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A Dahaf poll done yesterday for Yediot Ahronot shows that 60% do not believe that Olmert didn't take money (this double negative is how the poll was worded), and 59% think he should resign.
If Livni heads the Kadima party , according to this poll, Kadima would get 27 mandates (seats) and Likud 23. This is bad news for Netanyahu, who's been biding his time, assuming that Likud would win the next election, and for those who are anxious to see Kadima out of power.
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Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman was here, and presented to Olmert and to Barak the proposal worked out with Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Both Barak and Olmert indicated that terms were not acceptable because the return of Gilad Shalit must be included. Additionally, Olmert specified that terms must include cessation of smuggling and arming of terrorist groups.
Suleiman was disgruntled by this Israeli response , after Egypt had worked so hard to establish terms. Suggesting that we are "inflexible," he pushed the notion that the ceasefire had to be accepted first, and then there would be an opportunity to discuss Shalit. But Israeli leaders weren't buying this, and he has no choice but to carry this message back to Hamas.
MK Yuval Steinitz (Likud) made an important point , with this: Release of Shalit, as eager as we all are for it, should not be the cause for our agreeing to a dangerous ceasefire that will result in additional deaths and kidnappings down the road because Hamas will continue to strengthen.
Although Suleiman spoke about a ceasefire leading the way to discussions on Shalit, it's not that simple. There is a standstill on these negotiations because there are certain Hamas prisoners with blood on their hands that our security people refuse to release but that Hamas insists must be released.
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There are those who see Suleiman's visit as a final effort to stop the shooting of Kassams before Israel escalates militarily. Barak made the observation, perhaps relevant, as his meeting with Suleiman ended, that "Israel cannot continue exercising restraint over the ongoing terror from the Gaza Strip." Additionally, Barak was clearly not receptive to the suggestion that after six months of quiet in Gaza there would be efforts to extend the ceasefire to Judea and Samaria.
Olmert, however, is scheduled to meet with Mubarak , precisely when is unclear. This had been agreed to weeks ago.
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This evening an elderly woman who had come to visit at Moshav Yesha, near Gaza, was killed when a Kassam hit the house where her family lived. Islamic Jihad has claimed credit.
Earlier today two Grad Katyushas hit Ashkelon.
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