‘Olmert’s Comments May Prove Harmful’, By Yaakov Katz (Jerusalem Post)
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“Olmert’s comment was even more surprising considering that in recent weeks he held two four-hour long meetings with former minister Dan Meridor – author of Israel’s newly-formulated defense doctrine – during which he was briefed on the main principles, which include maintaining Israel’s long-standing policy of nuclear ambiguity.”
Full Text;
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s apparent inclusion of Israel in the nuclear club and confirmation that the country has nuclear weapons could prove disastrous to Israel’s strategic standing, senior defense officials said Tuesday.
According to the officials – responsible for planning Israel’s long-term defense strategy – Olmert’s comment could eventually lead to renewed pressure to open up the country’s nuclear installations to international inspections. Egypt has repeatedly called for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections of the Dimona nuclear facility as well as Israel’s signature on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Olmert’s comment was even more surprising considering that in recent weeks he held two four-hour long meetings with former minister Dan Meridor – author of Israel’s newly-formulated defense doctrine – during which he was briefed on the main principles, which include maintaining Israel’s long-standing policy of nuclear ambiguity.
Following the meetings, The Jerusalem Post has learned, Olmert told Meridor he planned to adopt the doctrine in its entirety, and bring it to the security cabinet for final approval.
A high-level adviser to Olmert on defense and diplomatic issues told the Post recently that Israel needed to maintain nuclear ambiguity “at all costs.”
“This policy scares our adversaries,” the high-ranking official said. “Even if they think they know, they don’t really know and that scares them.”
According to the official, Israel’s policy has paid off by preventing IAEA inspection of its nuclear sites. The policy has also allowed the United States to rebuff calls – like those from the Egyptians – for international inspections of Israel’s facilities. In addition, the policy has so far warded off attempts by other Middle Eastern countries – except for Iran – to begin developing their own nuclear programs using the excuse that Israel has a nuclear capability.
On Tuesday, Defense Minister Amir Peretz reiterated that the policy of ambiguity had not changed. “I definitely believe that the policy remains the same,” Peretz said during a visit to the Judea and Samaria Division. “We continue the same policy and to do our job the best we can. Let no one think [however that] we will remain aloof from world events.”
Other officials called Tuesday for a reevaluation of the policy of nuclear ambiguity. With Teheran racing toward nuclear independence, these officials said Israel needed to openly deter Iran by publicly confirming its nuclear capabilities.
For more comments regarding Olmert’s nuclear comments, read the quotes below from this article;
Olmert’s statement was criticized across the political spectrum, most notably by his opponents inside Kadima. Coalition chairman Avigdor Yitzhaki said Olmert “made a mistake and needs to be careful. He suggested that Olmert “read from the text” prepared for him instead of ad-libbing in interviews with the foreign press.
Kadima MK Marina Solodkin said she did not believe Olmert had damaged the country with his statement but that he did harm himself. She said she thought Olmert made the statement purposely, to hint to Iran that Israel had nuclear weapons.
“He did damage to himself because he didn’t think,” Solodkin said. “I have no love for the prime minister but I think he is a master of nuances and hints. He wanted to hint that we have [a nuclear capability]. After 30 years of political experience, it’s shocking that he still doesn’t know what he gets himself into.”
Olmert’s rivals said his statement was another of a long list of statements he has ended up regretting. Just last week, Olmert got in trouble on the issue of Israel’s kidnapped soldiers in Lebanon for saying, “I hope they are alive,” and that a prisoner exchange would merely decide whether the soldiers would “remain in captivity for a bit longer or a bit less.”
The prime minister has also been criticized for saying that a prime minister did not need an agenda; urging US President George W. Bush to remain in Iraq; claiming that Kadima had the election won three weeks before it was held; boasting of victory in the war in Lebanon; and suggesting that the war could lead to the implementation of his realignment plan.
“The outcome of the operations in the South and the North will ultimately lay the foundations for movement in the framework of the realignment,” Olmert said, in a statement that was widely criticized by soldiers who fought in the war but stood to lose their homes in the event of a West Bank withdrawal.