Olmert’s “Convergence” = Expulsion2: Too Massive, Too Costly and Olmert — He’s No Sharon …

Unilateralism an Empty Dream

Commentary;

Perhaps Olmert’s “Convergence” will go the way of Barak’s pre-campaign push to draft Chareidim. It’s two massive in scope and too economically costly. The American aid that Israel banked on with the Gaza expulsion never materialized as the US was stuck with a major refugee problem of it’s own from the massive Hurricane Katrina.

In order to satisfy Labor’s socieo-economic demands, there will be no additional funds available to defray both the massive military/police costs of executing such an expulsion and the costs of restitution to the residents of an expulsion of the scale and magnitude of 80,000 Jews. read more

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Coalition Positioning Machinations …

Olmert’s Obligations

Excerpts;

Humility is not presumptive Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s strong suit; nor is winning an election usually conducive to developing such a trait. The circumstances, however, require humility, and not just because the winner arrives as a stand-in for the comatose Ariel Sharon.

The voters have indeed given Olmert a mandate, but there is a gap between the tentative confidence shown in his path and the momentous steps our new leader has promised to take. Given the election results, it will take a mighty effort and all of Olmert’s skills not to tear this country, and its economy, apart. read more

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By the Way Rafi, Now That You’re Elected: What About Jonathan Pollard?

US: No Comment on Eitan’s Election

Main Points;

1/ Rafi Eitan, leader of the Gil Pensioners’ Party, to the Knesset; “… considered an “unindicted co-conspirator” in the Jonathan Pollard spy case and might be taken in for questioning if he enters the US.”

2/ He was “former senior Mossad official, was head of the branch dealing with technology and science … recruited Pollard, … and served as his operator, receiving top secret information from him.” read more

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Try Strength, Not Fatigue …

Try Victory, by Daniel Pipes

Excerpts;

As Israelis went to the polls, not one of the leading parties offered the option of winning the war against the Palestinians. It’s a striking and dangerous lacuna.

Rather than seek victory, Israelis have developed a lengthy menu of approaches to manage the conflict. These include:

•Unilateralism (building a barrier, partial withdrawals): The current policy, as espoused by Ariel Sharon, Ehud Olmert, and the Kadima Party.

•Lease for 99 years the land under Israeli towns on the West Bank: The Labor Party of Amir Peretz. read more

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Parties Positioning and Strategizing on Coalition Negotiations …

Eitan Vows to Focus on Pensioner’s Issues

Full Text;

Gil Pensioners Party Chairman Rafi Eitan, who led his party to an astounding seven mandates for the 17th Knesset, promised to focus on the issue that got him there.

“People chose for me for a specific issue, thus I have no choice but to concentrate on one thing, the pensioners,” he said in a Channel 1 interview Wednesday night.

“First we will take care of the pensioners, before anything else.”

Eitan was non-committal about coalition options, but said he believed that his party would not be a deciding factor. read more

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Prime Minister-Elect Olmert Facing Special State Controller’s Report: Charges of Alleged Forbidden Political Appointments, Use of Personal Connections …

The State Comptroller is About to Reveal a Special Report:: Olmert and His Close Associates’ Jobs

Excerpt;

The complaint was filed in September 2004 by the Workers’ Committee in the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Tourism – The suspicion: Olmert and Director-General Dinur made forbidden political appointments and made use of personal connections – The Comptroller confirms: he will shortly issue a special report – Olmert and Dinur deny the claims.

This report and 4 others regarding alleged charges illegal appointments, use of personal connections, etc. can be viewed by clicking here. read more

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The Election Post-Mortems Begin …

Final Tabulation of Election by Week’s End

Full Text;

Election committee officials reported earlier on Wednesday morning that the absolute final tabulation of the 17th Knesset election will not be available until Friday morning.

Among the ballots that still have to be counted are those of soldiers, members of the diplomatic corps and government employees stationed abroad, those of Gush Katif evictee families, and some ten ballot boxes from certain districts as well as ballots from areas in Judea and Samaria. read more

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