Olmert says government won't build near Ma'aleh Adumim
The very distasteful minister Ehud Olmert has told the ultra-knee-jerk Jerusalem Post that the government won't work on the special neighborhood project between Jerusalem and Ma'aleh Adumim, and is doing it at the behest of the American government:
Notice also that the newspaper has referred to Ma'aleh Adumim as a "settlement". Was it ever truly called such a thing in past years? Not really, and I can't say that the project between areas has ever been flat-out opposed by the US in past years either. I would assume that this is an attempt by the JPost to tell people what to think/believe.
Olmert then goes on to pretend that all's quiet in these parts this past month:
Like Ariel Sharon, whose shoes he shines, Olmert too is done in politics, and is unlikely to be elected for the Knesset again.
See also at Israel Perspectives.
The comments were the first public confirmation by a top government official that Israel has frozen the controversial building plans in the wake of American pressure.In other words, it all depends on the United States to do anything. And, in a way, he's saying that Israel has no free will of its own. Olmert is considered a crooked lawyer (yes, he's got a degree in that field) by many Israelis, especially now, and this'll only further the bad impression people here have of him.
"The State of Israel has committed itself to freeze the building," Olmert said in an interview with The Jerusalem Post.
"As such, we would be acting in an irresponsible manner if we would do otherwise," he added.
The long-planned construction of 3,500 housing units on the outskirts of the West Bank settlement of Ma'aleh Adumim, as part of a decade-old government proposal which will link the suburban Jerusalem settlement to the capital has been subject to fierce Palestinian and international condemnation, and to American resistance.
Olmert said that Israel made the commitment to the Americans several months ago when final approval of the plan, known as E1, seemed imminent.
At the same time, the deputy prime minister stressed that in the future Israel will definitely go ahead with the project, although, with elections on the horizon, he pointedly declined to commit to a date, and said such a move would come only after consultations with the Americans.
Notice also that the newspaper has referred to Ma'aleh Adumim as a "settlement". Was it ever truly called such a thing in past years? Not really, and I can't say that the project between areas has ever been flat-out opposed by the US in past years either. I would assume that this is an attempt by the JPost to tell people what to think/believe.
Olmert then goes on to pretend that all's quiet in these parts this past month:
Olmert said that Israel was taking a wait and see attitude about how Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas would respond to Israel's disengagement plan, specifically whether the PA is going to crack down on Palestinian terror groups, as required under the internationally sponsored road map plan.No kidding. There were mortar attacks from Gaza even then, and he tries to claim otherwise?
"I cannot say that they are doing this, but I believe it is within their power to do so," he said, noting that the relative quiet during last month's Gaza pullout showed that when the PA wants quiet they can get it.
Like Ariel Sharon, whose shoes he shines, Olmert too is done in politics, and is unlikely to be elected for the Knesset again.
See also at Israel Perspectives.
Labels: Israel
Unfortunately, Olmert's not done, unless we get the dirt out on him. He's being primed to be prime minister, G-d forbid.
Take a good look at what has been going on.
Posted by
Batya |
9/04/2005 01:03:00 AM
Good point, though from what I've seen in the past year, he's pretty much disliked now by a lot of the people he betrayed. What a shame that ever since he left his post as mayor, he's done the 360 on the Israeli public.
Posted by
Avi Green |
9/04/2005 12:05:00 PM