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Commentary;
The Jerusalem Post’s Gil Hoffman reports on Foreign Minister and Kadima party prime ministerial candidate Tzipi Livni’s denial of involvement with the concessions revealed in acting-prime minister Olmert’s recent Yediot Aharonot interview as having allegedly been made by the two of them during negotiations with PA president Mahmoud Abbas:
Will someone please tell this author how these two statements differ:
Olmert reported statement to US envoy George Mitchell:
He and Livni agreed to divide Jerusalem, maintain only settlement blocs in the West Bank and uproot 60,000 Jews from their homes.
Livni’s “denial” of the Olmert’s reported statement to US envoy George Mitchell:
“I will only advance an agreement that represents our interests of maintaining a maximum of [West Bank Jewish] residents, keeping places that are important to us especially in Jerusalem, and not allowing the return of a single refugee.”
There is nothing new in Olmert’s comments to US envoy Mitchell and it seems obvious that Livni is dancing a deceptive political soft-shoe over both Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria.
Careful review of the two statements as well as review of maps and of population distribution in the “settlement blocs”, as opposed to the rest of Yehuda and Shomron, will reveal that Livni is as totally in synch with Olmert as pitcher with catcher.
As for Netanyahu’s uproar over the Livni-Olmert position, MK Gidon Sa’ar comments; “This plan is dangerous and abandons the security of Israel. It will bring Hamas’ missiles to Tel Aviv and the center of the country” are appropriate, although lacking. It is tragic to see the total lack of spiritual connection both to a unified Jerusalem in Jewish hands, and to Jewish sovereignty on Jewish land in Yehuda and Shomron for other than strategic and security reasons.
Seeing is believing as to whether Likud will stand by it’s party statement; “this plan does not obligate Israel nor the Likud headed by Binyamin Netanyahu” if elected and approved by the President to assemble a coalition government. MB
Livni Denies Involvement in Reported Concessions to Palestinians, by Gil Hoffman (Jerusalem Post)
Except;
According to the report, Olmert told US envoy George Mitchell that he and Livni agreed to divide Jerusalem, maintain only settlement blocs in the West Bank and uproot 60,000 Jews from their homes.
The revelations of the concessions less than two weeks before the February 10 election reportedly upset Livni, who told confidants that she believed Olmert, her predecessor as Kadima leader, was purposely harming her.
In a speech to Tel Aviv-Jaffa College students, Livni denied that Olmert was speaking for her when he talked to Mitchell.
“The headline does not represent me or what I am advancing,” she said.
“I will only advance an agreement that represents our interests of maintaining a maximum of [West Bank Jewish] residents, keeping places that are important to us especially in Jerusalem, and not allowing the return of a single refugee.”
“Everyone knows that Olmert doesn’t represent anyone but himself,” a source close to Livni added.
Livni: If Hamas Attacks, We’ll Topple It
Excerpt;
“‘If they keep firing, we will complete our strategic goal: Toppling the Hamas regime,’ Livni said.” [Admission that Operation did not meet
strategic goal.]
The Torah on ‘Disengagement’. by Rabbi Eliezer Melamed (Israel National News)
Olmert’s associates denied any intention of harming Livni and said they were not behind the leak to the newspaper.
Livni’s opponent in the election, Likud chairman Binyamin Netanyahu, said he would not feel obligated by any of Olmert’s commitments if he won the race for prime minister. He accused Livni of secretly making dangerous concessions to the Palestinians.
“She said she was a partner to all the decisions made by the Kadima government,” Netanyahu told Army Radio. “Now we see what she decided and what she conceded.”
Netanyahu vowed to not uproot any Jews from their homes if elected.
The Likud faction initiated a special Knesset session next week to discuss the report.
Netanyahu formally rejected Livni’s offer of a debate on Thursday when he said that “the real debate will happen at the ballot box.”
A poll broadcast Wednesday on Channel 2 found that the gap between Netanyahu and Livni was 12 seats. Another poll broadcast the same night on Channel 10 put it at just three seats. A third poll on Israel Radio on Thursday predicted a nine-mandate victory for the Likud.
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