Prime minister ready to dismantle settlements

A few days after the new investigation against Olmert, which is trumpeted as devastating, the prime minister suddenly changed his mind and during today’s meeting with Abbas announced that Israel is ready to “tangible changes” in the West Bank, a code phrase for evacuating Jewish settlements where more than 200,000 people live.
Olmert’s announcement was expected after Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told Rice yesterday that settlements are not obstacle to peace, just like Gush Katif was not. Tzipi meant that the Jewish government won’t hesitate destroying Israeli villages in Judea and Samaria just as it destroyed Gush Katif in Gaza.
Olmert’s change of mind is of the same stock as Ariel Sharon’s. Arik’s election campaign ridiculed the Labor’s program of unilateral disengagement from Gaza, but shortly after being elected, under the weight of criminal charges, Sharon adopted the very same platform. In return, the leftists who control Israeli security establishment provided Sharon with virtual safety net against criminal prosecution.
Shimon Peres, who certainly orchestrated the new round of criminal investigation against Olmert, announced his belief in Olmert’s innocence, signaling acceptance of his part of the deal: as long as Olmert cooperates with leftists on withdrawalfrom Judea and Samaria, he will be free from prosecution.
It is hardly coincidental that the new charges against Olmert were announced immediately before the meeting with Rice and involve Jewish American businessman. The US Administration likely helped Israeli leftists to dig out the new criminal allegations against Olmert.
The Labor and Kadima parties are able to arrange a Knesset majority to approve unilateral disengagement from Judea and Samaria.
In order to go on with the peace process, Israel would have to accept ceasefire with Hamas. The peace process will have to go on very fast while the ceasefire still stands.