After the Likud opposition party obtained enough signatures to schedule a special session on Wednesday, 20 August, to address a number of issues, including the recent visit to Iran by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and the policies of the current administration, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, particularly in relation to the indirect talks between Israel and Syria.

Despite the fact that Olmert is aware his days in office are numbered, he is continuing efforts towards signing a peace deal. Olmert appears determined despite numerous statements by Assad that any direct talks with Israel may follow an Israeli declaration of a willingness to accept a unilateral withdrawal to the pre-June 1967 Six Day War boundaries.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)