Pray for Ehud Olmert

Joel C. Rosenberg reminds us that prayers are also in order for Ehud Olmert.  Amotz Asa-El, in an insightful column, suggests Olmert has the potential to be a unifying force (assuming he is not too tired).

Some insight into his views may be provided by a Q&A session Olmert held on June 15, 2005 with readers of Haaretz:

Q.  In your opinion, what would a final peace agreement with the Palestinians look like? How much of the West Bank will be given to the Palestinians along with sectors of East Jerusalem?

Ehud Olmert:  I think it will be premature at this point to give a comprehensive response on the issue of a permanent peace agreement between us and the Palestinians. It depends on so many uncertain elements that it would be simplistic and artificial. However, I already said a few times what I think the guiding principles should be for a permanent agreement.

We have to separate Jews from Palestinians. Therefore, we’ll have to pull out of the areas densely populated by Palestinians and make sure that Israel has a stable and permanent Jewish majority in the State of Israel. Or in other words, maximum Jews and minimum Arabs.

Consequently, we will have to dismantle many isolated settlements in the West Bank and retain the major blocs of townships that were created.

I think that we should forever keep the city of Jerusalem undivided. The Old City, the Temple Mount, the Mount of Olives, Sheikh Jarah, Ras el-Amud, Beit Hanina and so on will remain part of the State of Israel.

Q.  Why don’t you support the Geneva Accord?

Ehud Olmert:  I don’t support the Geneva draft for three reasons:

1. It implies a complete withdrawal to the 1967 lines, which is acutely dangerous to the future existence of Israel.

2. It implies the redivision of Jerusalem, which is totally unacceptable.

3. It established the basis for the solution of the refugee problem on UN resolution 194, which laid the foundation for the Palestinian claim for right of return.

All these three elements are totally unacceptable.