Israelis take part in a protest outside the Parliament in Jerusalem calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert February 4, 2008. The placard reads in Hebrew “Elections Now”. REUTERS/Eliana Aponte (Jerusalem).
Ehud Olmert, speaking on February 4, 2008 to the Knesset:
I bear ultimate responsibility for all the failures — I said so the day the fighting ended and never attempted to avoid it or renounce it.
I am not here to get even with individuals or groups regarding what became increasingly weaker over the years, what was not dealt with, was neglected; all the budgetary cuts; changes in military parlance and thinking; the lack of an effective National Security Council; and the many other failures which the Committee uncovered and emphasized.
I declare that I take upon myself the full responsibility for all these failures as well. I am the Prime Minister. I was elected Prime Minister two months before July 12. There cannot be an effective democracy without those who bear responsibility. I accept this.
Olmert first says he bears “ultimate” responsibility for all the failures.
Then he lists the failures of others — not dealing with the situation “over the years,” cutting the budget, changing “military parlance and thinking,” not having an effective National Security Council, and “many other failures.”
Then he declares that he takes “full responsibility” for all those failures . . . by others.
His speech does not set forth a single personal failure. So he will take “full responsibility” by staying in office so he will have the chance to produce more failures-by-others.
But Ehud Barak is no better, and the Israeli political system (in which most Knesset members are controlled by their party leaders rather than the voters) has produced a Teflon Prime Minister. A political system that also produced Amir Peretz as Defense Minister needs to be changed.