The announcement that Minister Chaim Ramon at Sunday’s weekly cabinet meeting is planning to explain to ministers the prime minister’s new expulsion plan for residents of Yehuda and Shomron may be more than it appears on the surface.

Olmert sometime ago announced his plan to expel Jews from most communities of Yehuda and Shomron, but many are asking why the prime minister is undertaking this campaign only weeks before he is scheduled to be replaced, realizing full well he cannot push it through in such a short period of time.

It appears Mr. Olmert may be working to create a government crisis in the hope that the coalition will break apart, compelling new elections in 90 days. Should he succeed, he will have guaranteed himself another three months in office.

On the other hand, if the government remains intact, following the Kadima Party primaries on 17 Sept, he is compelled to step down from office and permit a cabinet shuffle and the continuation of the current administration.

Analysts agree that Olmert is working on ways to extend his tenure to the maximum and the issue of a 2nd expulsion of Jews from their homes may be just the ticket to achieving this goal.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)