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Commentary;
In the report below, check out Olmert’s fine-print loophole buried on the last lines;
We don’t know if there will be an agreement, what the details of such an agreement will be or if it will be sufficient to bring for Knesset approval.
This Associated Press report on “parlimentary approval” makes that very point;
Mazuz said Olmert qualified that promise by saying that it was not clear the declaration would go far enough to require a vote.
In short, the above quote strongly indicates that Olmert’s loophole is wide enough to drive a division of tanks through, that language of any joint statement or declaration can and will be manipulated such that Olmert would get around presenting it to Knesset for approval. Further, the seemingly vague language would be structured, manipulated and doctored such that Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu would not bolt the government. The teflon Olmert would thus be “home free” to pursue his schemes to further his concessions and relinquishments. MB
‘Knesset Must Ok Principles Declaration’
Excerpts;
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has committed to bringing any joint Israeli-Palestinian declaration reached at the Annapolis conference to the Knesset for approval, Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz said Monday, responding to a petition by MK Gideon Sa’ar (Likud.)
Olmert has said in the past that he intended to bring a declaration, if reached, to the cabinet, but not to the Knesset.
However, Mazuz said that Olmert had agreed to present any such declaration, not only a final status proposal, for Knesset approval.
“Any document outlining the obligations of the State of Israel regarding important political or military decisions, whether regarding a final peace deal, an agreement over a joint declaration of principles or anything else that requires Israel’s legal obligation will be brought before the Knesset,” Olmert told Mazuz.
However, the prime minister went on to say that at this time, the outcome of talks with the Palestinians could not be evaluated.
“We don’t know if there will be an agreement, what the details of such an agreement will be or if it will be sufficient to bring for Knesset approval.”
The Precedent Set By PM Begin of Knesset Approval
Excerpt from Letter sent by PM Begin to President Jimmy Carter;
The vote, Mr. President, on this issue will be completely free from the usual Parliamentary Party discipline to the effect that although the coalition is being now supported by 70 members out of 120, every member of the Knesset, as I believe, both of the Government and the Opposition benches will be enabled to vote in accordance with his own conscience.
Full Text;
Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas told Indonesian leaders that he wants Hamas “in the fold” rather than outside. Israel has warned Abbas he would not continue negotiations if his Fatah faction renews unity talks with Hamas.
“We are trying, doing our best, we know it’s difficult, but we tell them day and night, directly and through third parties, to revoke this coup [and] then we will talk with them,” he said, referring to Hamas’s military takeover in Gaza last June. During his visit to Indonesia, he added that including Hamas in a future Arab state “is none of their [the Americans’] business.”