Speaking with interviewer Yaakov Katz at the Jerusalem Post Annual Conference, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is asked to address Iran and Tehran’s ongoing effort to complete a nuclear bomb.
Olmert refrains from criticizing Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, explaining his policy is not to do so to forums outside of Israel. He does feel the current administration speaks too much about the Iranian issue, assuring us that his administration and others dealt with Iran, expressing total confidence that Tehran will never have a nuclear bomb.
Regarding efforts towards peace with the PA (Palestinian Authority), and America’s ‘Deal of the Century’, Olmert explains his plan offered to the PA when he was prime minister is the plan that will work, questioning “What does Israel want” today, adding peace with the Palestinians cannot be achieved with the current Israeli administration.
“I am not familiar with America’s ‘Deal of the Century’ but would like to suggest that such a deal must be between Israel and the Palestinians, not between Israel and America, which we already have”.
Olmert feels talk of annexation of Yehuda and Shomron is not useful towards achieving peace despite the realization many Israelis wish to have annexation. However, he feels the majority of the country will not wish to add 300,000 Palestinians to Jerusalem, from the refugee camp, and becoming a majority and then they can vote in a Palestinian mayor. He refers to neighborhoods of Jabil Mukhaber and Shuafat to name a few.
“We must try to think in a different way in order to achieve our national goals. I am not sure what Mr. Greenblatt and the president are offering and am not unhappy they are engaged in this. Look, I do not know the president…I know one thing, that he is exceptionally sensitive about failing with anything he does…so if he calls a peace plan ‘A Deal of a Century’, he must think there is a good chance it will succeed or he would not wish to initiate a plan named after him if he does not believe it will work, but it has to at least be somewhat appealing to the other side…If the president is as determined as I think he will propose something as uncomfortable to Israel as he did to the Palestinians”.
Regarding new elections, any chance you will make a comeback?
This is a great idea, and many people would love it…I think I will look at the political process from the advantageous position of an outsider for the time being. I am not saying I am not coming back, but not for these elections.
See the accompanying video for the entire 22-minute interview.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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One Response
who the heck is interested what this filthy TRAITOROUS Israel hating leftist gangster and swine has to say,this piece of human garbage is completely irrelevant,his opinions are as relevant as the opinion of a drunken bum passed out on the gutters of Tel Aviv