Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert announced he will not run in the Kadima primaries. With across-the-border opposition to Olmert, his Kadima successor would have no trouble forging a new government and replacing Olmert by the end of September.
Olmert might quit prematurely in order to pass the office to Mofaz and improve his chances in Kadima primaries. Presumably, an acting prime minister has better chance in primaries.
Olmert’s successor, be it Shaul Mofaz or Tzipi Livni, would be immeasurably worse than him. Of all the Israeli prime ministers during the last twenty years, Olmert was the only one who, through political intrigues, managed to give nothing to Palestinians and leftist defeatists.
Under Olmert’s government, Israel attacked Lebanon at the first pretext, though she had routinely swallowed similar kidnappings before. The results of the Lebanese war were as good as practically possible: Olmert could not occupy Lebanon, change its government, or carpet-bomb it. Military misdoings during the war were the Defense Minister’s and Chief of Staff’s fault, not prime minister’s.
Olmert quietly and courageously ordered attack on Syria, and did not use the operation for self-promotion as every other politician would have done.
Olmert firmly opposed irresponsible calls to invade Gaza, an operation certain to engage Israeli army in massive urban conflict with no chances of eradicating deep-rooted Hamas.
Despite the tremendous American pressure, Olmert did not dismantle any settlement or significant outpost. Under his leadership, settlements were enlarged and the number of outposts grew manifold.
Olmert presided over a robust economy.
He was a politician par excellence, intrigued and manipulated, gave promises to our enemies not meaning to fulfill them. He soothed Syria with peace negotiations after bombing it, and maintained perfect relations with the American administration even though refusing all of its demands de facto.
All the corruption allegations against him bore no charges, let alone convictions. His alleged financial misdoings were trivial and did not harm the country. Olmert had for long survived an incredible witch-hunt by some of the most corrupt Israeli politicians, including Barak. Stupid right-wingers and Jew-hating leftists joined forces against him, and misused police to that end.
Those who hunted down Olmert bear responsibility for bringing Livni or Mofaz to power.
Notable excerps from Olmert’s resignation speech are here.
Recent articles on Ehud Olmert: Olmert isn’t worse, Others are worse.
One word: Amona.
Obviously, the prime minister did not order police to be brutal. Nor was the Amona a serious outpost.
“Obviously, the prime minister did not order police to be brutal.”
He didn’t? And “obviously????”
You’ve concluded this how?
It was a show of force to prove to the leftists he would take care of business.
Let’s also not forget the armored vehicles he signed over to the PLO. Even if you argue it was “only 25″ (or however many there were), this is a pattern that will no doubt be adopted and continued by future PM’s. It is always the problematic ’setting of precedent’ by current Israeli prime ministers that end up hurting the Jews because a later prime minister will cite that instance (and other things) as justification for even worse crimes of his own, which s/he will present to the public as worthy.
The Syrian negotiations would have ended in land surrender were it not for the Syrian Nazi stubbornness and refusal to be seen as friendly with Israel. Do you deny this? Do you really think Olmert somehow ‘crafted’ the terms to be not accepted by syria? He’s offering them the farm just to agree to talks. Not even phony peace anymore. Just ‘talks.’ For all of Golan. Olmert is not the reason it will fail. But someone later will cite him, just like he cited Netanyahu and others before him who mentioned golan.
Come on, those APCs… Talk about guns. Olmert was not the first prime minister to give the Palestinians automatic rifles.
This makes it ok? You have a habit to cheerlead for the status quo. I can’t wait to see how you convince us Olmert’s replacement is “no worse than anyone else would be so just be happy” after weeks/months of saying losing olmert would be such a grave disaster…
Assuming that Israeli politicians become progressively worse with the time, it makes sense to stick with the status quo. But seriously, you have Netanyahu who gave away Hebron, Barak who was ready to give away the Temple Mount, Tzipi the peace process lover…
Ehud Olmert leftist representatives were so much against, was one of the best politicians, of course, but he also confirmed the opinion that it’s impossible to trust Israel which is not that good from the point of view of international relations.Ehud Olmert leftist regarded him as a real pest, will go and there’s nothing left but to hope for the better.
Israelis lose award of credibility thanks to this guy.