There have been press reports on Ehud Olmert’s November 4 speech to the Saban Forum, but you have to read the entire speech to get its full flavor.
Here is Olmert’s answer to the question, which he rhetorically asks himself in the speech, about the Annapolis conference: “Why now?”
Because it is time. . . . The Palestinian leadership is headed by men committed to all the agreements previously signed with the State of Israel.
We do not ignore their weaknesses; we are completely aware of the failures of the Palestinian Authority — of the lack of stable governing mechanisms, of the total disintegration of the security mechanisms in Judea and Samaria, of the Hamas rule over the Palestinian parliament and of the violent control of the murderous organizations in the Gaza Strip. Their control allows for unceasing firing of Qassam missiles at residents in the south of the country. . . .
However, ladies and gentlemen, we are capable of facing these constraints. Under the existing circumstances, we have a partner and we are not willing to postpone negotiations to a later date, at which point our partner might not be capable of fulfilling the mission. . . .
Let’s see: the Palestinian Authority has repeatedly failed; the Palestinian leadership didn’t fulfill the prior agreements (to which they were “committed”); there is no stable governing mechanism anywhere; the security mechanisms in the West Bank have totally disintegrated; Hamas rules over Gaza; murderous organizations roam unimpeded there; there is unceasing firing of missiles on Israeli civilians.
But “it is time” — because soon the Palestinian leadership “might not be capable of fulfilling the mission.”
Olmert ended his speech by repeating that “the time has come” because, well, the time has come:
This is a good moment. I am excited by the chance to contribute to our chances. I know all the excuses and arguments why not, but I believe — from the bottom of my heart — that the time has come.