Gaza,Jerusalem, and Olmert's Sad Curtain Call
In early February Edhud Olmert's political life will most definitely come to an end. Israel's general election will provide the final nail in his once promising political career.
Today, Haaretz reports that Olmert
privately agreed to divide Jerusalem. The article also notes that some of his housing policies in Jerusalem seem contrary to the policy of division. This (at best) muddled record stands in sharp contrast to the leadership role he played in saving Jerusalem from division. In 2001, then Mayor Olmert stood with One Jerusalem in declaring Jerusalem as the heart and sole of the Jewish people. Today, it is clear that the Olmert, Livni, Barak government would have given the Temple Mount to the Palestinians if the opportunity presented itself.
Along with abandoning Jerusalem, Olmert seems to have abandoned the war against Hamas. Israel's hasty retreat from Gaza has left Hamas to fight another day. While Obama's inauguration will bring quiet to Israel's Southern front, in the not too distant future look for rockets to start flying again into Israel.
It will be up to the next government to deal with this security matter. Will Israel elect Netanyahu or Livni to secure its borders? It is not too often that voters get a real choice on election day. One Jerusalem will continue to cover this very important story. The future of Jerusalem and Israel will be sharply different depending on its outcome.
Leaving Gaza with such haste and abandon is a huge mistake. The missiles will be longer range next time. The casualities will also be greater if Ahmadinejad has any say in the matter. Now the Kadima-Labor combination has blinked twice--that's two times too many for such a tiny country as Israel. Mr. Netanyahu is Israel's best chance to deal with the very sober security challenges facing Israel in the North, the South, and the East (Iran). I hope and pray that Israelis will be sensible in this upcoming election. There can't be any hedging about what will need to be done with Iran. Someone who is clearsighted must be at the helm of the ship for this upcoming existential challenge facing Israel in the near future.