You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Top Olmert aids to notify US on cancellation of realignment
2006-09-05
Senior Israel officials are scheduled to leave for the United States late Monday evening to notify the US government that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's realignment plan for unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank is off the table. Olmert's chief of staff Yoram Turbovich and diplomatic advisor Shalom Turgeman expect to meet with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and national security advisor Steve Hadley, and intend to plan Olmert's next visit to the US.

“Realignment was the central platform of Olmert's policy regarding the Palestinians, but the idea of unilateral withdrawal from captured territory has been deeply undermined by the recent war with Hizbullah in southern Lebanon...”
Olmert reportedly told the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday that the realignment plan agenda "is no longer relevant." Speaking after the meeting, committee member Ran Cohen (Meretz) said that the word realignment was dead and that he understood from Olmert that the idea had been put to bed. Realignment was the central platform of Olmert's policy regarding the Palestinians, but the idea of unilateral withdrawal from captured territory has been deeply undermined by the recent war with Hizbullah in southern Lebanon - a conflict that erupted six years after Israel withdrew unilaterally from the security zone it had maintained there.

Yesha spokesperson Emily Amrusi was not overly thrilled by Olmert's reported remarks. She said that the prime minister had made the statement out of political motives since what concerned him was keeping his coalition together and not aggravating the opposition. "Olmert is still a shortsighted leader who is devoid of logic. He has not changed overnight, he is even talking of negotiating with Lebanon," exclaimed Amrusi.
Posted by:Fred

#6  As the only thing that will bring peace to the Middle East is the total defeat of the Muslims, it's pointless for Israel to allow the stated wishes of the Muslim countries to in any way affect her actions, Bruce. In fact, the greater pain the Muslim countries feel, the sooner they will accept the reality that they've been incapable of erasing since the late 19th century, long before the United Nations recognized the national aspirations of the Jewish people being as legitimate as those of the Poles, the Belgians, and the Saudi Arabians, amongst others.
Posted by: trailing wife   2006-09-05 18:40  

#5  Kahane was right. Everything that's happened to Israel since his death is nothing but a vindication of his policies.
Posted by: mcsegeek1   2006-09-05 09:21  

#4  U think this was all planned before hand ... remove recent settlements from Gaza and solidify West bank colonization?

How will this bring democracy and peace to the political desert that is the Middle East?

Sorta like moving the sod busters in behind the cavalry in the Dakotas and New Mexico Territories. It certainly takes a while, but is rather permanent in its lasting effects.
Posted by: Elmeretch Spoque3740   2006-09-05 09:13  

#3  Hezbollah or Hizbullah?

U think this was all planned before hand ... remove recent settlements from Gaza and solidify West bank colonization?

How will this bring democracy and peace to the political desert that is the Middle East?
Posted by: Bruce   2006-09-05 07:47  

#2  We all already agreed that it is not about land. It is only about destroying Israel. They screwed up, you get more land, Israel. Thanks Olmert.
Posted by: newc   2006-09-05 01:40  

#1  Good. Finaly he does something right by keeping the middle and southern areas of Israel out of rocket range.

As for Amrusi, he can go fuck himself.
Posted by: DarthVader   2006-09-05 00:11  

00:00