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Olmert: Stop Obsessing Over Settlements

Obama should take 'non-priority issue' off the table, writes ex-PM

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 17, 2009 6:27 AM CDT
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(Newser) – It's fine for Barack Obama to make overtures to the Arab world, but Ehud Olmert, reminding him in a Washington Post op-ed that Israel is "the only real Middle Eastern democracy," complains that he has focused too much of his attentions on Israel's settlements in the West Bank. Olmert says the two-state solution agreed to by George W. Bush—with whom his administration had "deep and candid understandings, both written and oral"—and codified in Annapolis, set out clear limits to Israeli settlements, but did not halt all future building.


"The insistence now on a complete freeze on settlement construction—impossible to completely enforce—will not promote Palestinian efforts to enhance security measures; the institution building that is so crucial for the development of a Palestinian state; better movement and access to the Palestinians; nor an improved economy in the West Bank."
Obama should take the settlement question off the agenda, Olmert writes, and focus on more critical political concerns: halting Iran's nuclear program, eliminating terrorism, and "normalizing relations between Israel and the Arab world."

Ehud Olmert, left, shakes hands with his successor Benjamin Netanyahu following his speech during a handover ceremony at the president's residence in Jerusalem Wedensday, April 1, 2009.
Ehud Olmert, left, shakes hands with his successor Benjamin Netanyahu following his speech during a handover ceremony at the president's residence in Jerusalem Wedensday, April 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Menahem Kahana, Pool)
Ehud Olmert, right, sits with Tzipi Livni and Ehud Barak ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of Benjamin Netanyahu's government in the Knesset, in Jerusalem, Tuesday, March 31, 2009.
Ehud Olmert, right, sits with Tzipi Livni and Ehud Barak ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of Benjamin Netanyahu's government in the Knesset, in Jerusalem, Tuesday, March 31, 2009.   (AP Photo/Debbie Hill, Pool)
Ehud Olmert looks on during a ceremony at the President's house in Jerusalem, Thursday, March 26, 2009.
Ehud Olmert looks on during a ceremony at the President's house in Jerusalem, Thursday, March 26, 2009.   (AP Photo/Dan Balilty)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
Sphinx
Jul 18, 2009 9:28 AM CDT
The problem is that they already agreed to stop settlement activity in return for the end of the Arab boycott about 100,000 settlements ago. If they want normalization with Arab countries, they need to honor the past agreements that would make that possible. It's their turn to make concessions.
polstroad
Jul 17, 2009 11:49 AM CDT
All well and good to say this, but the counter arguement is that terrorism and bad relations between the Arab world and Israel is due in some measure to the expansion of settlements. As for what Bush may have agreed to orally, that does not require the newer administration to honor that which we can know only because we are told that there was an oral agreement.
emptycalm
Jul 17, 2009 8:48 AM CDT
They are getting bombed and fucked with by a much more advanced army. You'll have to excuse them for being bitter and hostile. Israel pulling out of Gaza in the hope of peace is a joke. They were trying to get a point across and they made their point with extreme prejudice and when they were done, they left. And when they left, they left a humanitarian crisis that rivals darfur. I agree both sides need to try to meet each other in the middle but it's hard when one side is so out matched militarily. That will always be a looming threat.

 
Barack Obama • Israel • Ehud Olmert • Palestine • West Bank • Palestinians • settlement • Arab Israeli conflict • Jewish settlers • settlements

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