While he decided not to run in the upcoming general elections, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert feels perfectly comfortable launching attacks against the outgoing Netanyahu administration. The former prime minister was quite vocal when the administration announced plans to build in the E1 area, and this time around, he blames the Netanyahu administration of wasting 11 billion NIS.

“During the past two years, over 11 billion NIS was spent on security for adventurous fantasies that were not actualized and will not be actualized in the future” stated Olmert in a Friday night interview with Channel 2’s Ulpan Shishi news magazine program.

He blames Netanyahu for leading the world during 2012, warning of the decisive year, and in the end, nothing occurred. He feels the administration cannot continue leading the public while carrying the exorbitant defense budget, which he feels must be cut.

The Prime Minister’s Office was quick to respond, in a scathing tone, citing how it is interesting the criticism comes from the former prime minister cited for his lack of preparedness in the Second Lebanon War.

The prime minister used the media attended portion of the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday 2 Shevat 5773 to release the following official statement regarding Mr. Olmert’s criticism.

“Over the weekend, somebody criticized my government over the investments we made in security. Indeed, in contrast to governments that invested billions in the disengagement, we invested billions in building up our strength so as to ensure the security of Israel’s citizens. We invested and we will continue to invest in Iron Dome, which stopped the missiles, in the security fence in the south, which stopped the infiltrators in cyber security and in the offensive and defensive capabilities of the IDF, Mossad and Shin Bet.

“These capabilities have already found expression in various areas, including during Operation Pillar of Defense, which was conducted responsibly and wisely and which achieved its goals. It is no coincidence that the security situation in the country is the best it has been in years and this is in the face of the great security upheaval around us and in our region. I would like to commend the ministers who dealt with the issue and the government for backing the important operations to ensure the security of Israel’s citizens.”

Vice Premier and Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya’alon expressed sorrow over “the irresponsible comments” which are an extension of Olmert’s irresponsible behavior vis-à-vis the media.

Yisrael Beitenu reminds us that Olmert was convicted of breaking the law as well as bringing us the unilateral deployment that led to Hamas taking power and the failures of the Second Lebanon War.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)