Likud MK Dr. Yuval Shteinitz was one of the outspoken opponents to outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s latest ‘gesture’ to the PA (Palestinian Authority) as he continues efforts to hammer out an agreement before being compelled to leave office.
 
In his most recent effort, the prime minister spoke of handing over most of Yehuda and Shomron to the PA, along with eastern Yerushalayim, in addition to expressing a willingness to relinquish Israel’s sovereignty on the Golan Heights.
 
Shteinitz stated this latest Olmert offer leaves Israel’s basic defense needs compromised, and such a move could indeed place Israel in a situation facing an existential threat.
 
Yisrael Beitenu Party leader Avigdor Lieberman stated that the prime minister is continuing on a path proven to be ineffective, the “land for peace” concept. “We left Gaza and Lebanon and look what happened there” stated Lieberman.
 
Meretz MK Dr. Yossi Beilin stated “Olmert continues to sin” by the fact that only when “he has nothing to lose” does his show his true position regarding Israel’s national interests.
 
“For three years in office you brought a needless war and you continued to coo Lieberman towards sabotaging every political process. Now, when you are leaving the government you have a relationship with Abu Mazen and some type of dialogue via Turkey in Syria, and it will all be lost without a trace” stated Beilin.
 
In his Rosh Hashanah interview in Yediot Achronot, Olmert stated that at the end, Israel will be compelled to make major concessions, including the eastern capital and the Golan Heights, as well as land exchanges pertaining to land parcels inside pre-1967 Green Line Israel.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)