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Olmert: Joint Declaration With PA Won’t Require Knesset’s Approval, by Attila Somfalvi (Ynet)
Full Text;
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the cabinet Sunday that any agreement reached with the Palestinians during the Knesset’s winter session would not require the plenum’s approval.
The prime minister said there was a possibility of formulating a joint declaration, rather than a declaration of principles, with the Palestinian Authority.
However, he tried to lower expectations ahead of the US-brokered peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, saying “the declaration is not a prerequisite for holding the conference. The meeting itself is what’s important.
“Our main goal is to solidify the direct talks (between the sides),” Olmert told the ministers.
The prime minister lauded Mahmoud Abbas and referred to the recent meetings he had held with the Palestinian president as “brainstorming.”
According to Olmert, whop reiterated his commitment to the Road Map, the Palestinian leadership “is committed to compromise and to fighting terror.”
The prime minister said the government must work toward changing the system of government and drafting a constitution “in order to stabilize the political system”.
The Knesset’s winter session is scheduled to open on Monday.
Commentary;
Olmert’s announcement that a joint declaration with the Abbas and the “Pa (sic)” seems obviously part of his scheme to centralize power in the hands of less than a hand full of people, thus making the cabinet and knesset mere figureheads and eradicating any pretext of democracy in Israel and insuring the continuance of his power in spite of his various wrong-doings.
The report below fits neatly into his scheme; MB
New Olmert Committee Authorized to Change/Stall Gov’t Decisions
by Hillel Fendel (Israel National News)
Excerpts;
A three-man committee, comprising Prime Minister Olmert and two of his closest political allies, now has the right to change Cabinet decisions that have not yet been implemented. It can also bring about a delay in the implementation of other Cabinet decisions by recommending that the government reconsider them.
The voting members of the committee, in addition to Olmert, are Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann and Finance Minister Roni Bar-On. In addition, the Attorney General, the Prime Minister’s Bureau Director, and the Finance Ministry Director-General will be permanent non-voting participants. Other ministers and officials will be invited to participate in committee meetings in accordance with the agenda.
The government approved the formation of the committee by majority vote, over the objections of Shas and some of the Labor Party; two Labor ministers (Ben-Eliezer and Simchon) voted against, while another (Herzog) abstained. One Labor Party minister told Ynet, “What’s going on here? They’re turning the ministers into marionettes? This is just like other cases when they suddenly spring new regulations on us and thwart the democratic process… This is a totally undemocratic decision. We are considering turning to the Attorney General, because this decision gives the Prime Minister and his men unlimited power.”