Despite the efforts of the liberal press to demonize Olmert for challenging Hezbollah in a badly managed war, there is growing sentiment that it may be Olmert presiding over another unilateral withdrawal that may be the most politically costly to him. After negotiation after negotiation, and agreement after agreement with Islamic terrorist organizations/governments, the people of Israel are no better off and no safer than before. These terrorists do not honor diplomatic agreements that benefit the 'infidels' in any way. Their one objective is to either obliterate all opposition or force the entire world to conform to their methods and ideology.
I don't know whether the results would have been any better, but I think this whole thing would have gone very differently if sombody like Netanyahu had been at the helm. And he seems to have a much stronger position to make another run for Head of state at this time.
Israeli government faces deep post-Lebanon crisis
Aug 18 7:29 AM US/Eastern
Israel's government, under fire over military failures in Lebanon, runs the risk of ultimate collapse with its cornerstone policy of unilateral pullback from the occupied West Bank now off the agenda.
The liberal Haaretz newspaper quoted Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as telling ministers and senior members of his Kadima party during a closed meeting this week that talk about his "convergence plan" would not be "appropriate".
A front-page editorial in the newspaper on Friday, entitled "fight for survival", said the war in Lebanon convinced the premier "that it is impossible to sell the public another unilateral withdrawal". Olmert was "stuck", it said.
"His problem is that in giving up the unilateral withdrawal he is left without a political direction or a diplomatic agenda," wrote Aluf Benn.
The so-called
CONVERGENCE PLAN was the centrepiece of Olmert's political programme. He had considered the March 28 electoral victory of the newly-formed Kadima party as endorsement of his plan.
US President George W. Bush had also endorsed it by welcoming Olmert at the White House in May.
But commentators had started to predict the doom of the West Bank pullouts when the war broke out with the Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon.
Israel launched a massive offensive against Lebanon following the July 12 border attack in which eight soldiers were killed and two captured by the Shiite militia group.
Hezbollah responded by firing 4,000 rockets on northern Israel, killing 41 civilians and 12 soldiers there.
There were more Israeli casualties in the ground fighting that took place in south Lebanon from which Israel had pulled out in May 2000, ending 22 years of occupation but allowing Hezbollah's power to grow.
The further failure of Israel's historic withdrawal from the Gaza Strip to yield promised results also strengthened the resolve of those opposed to more unilateral pullouts from occupied land.
Israeli troops returned to the Gaza Strip on June 28, launching a massive operation there following the capture of a soldier by three militant groups, including the armed wing of the governing Hamas movement.
"The convergence plan died the day the Israeli Defence Forces (army) returned to the Gaza Strip, following the abduction of Corporal Gilad Shalit on 25 June," Benn wrote.
"At that point, it became clear that the legitimacy of the recognised international border offers Israel no protection against terrorism."
When Olmert defended the government's and military's performance in front of parliament, opposition Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently criticised past decisions to give up territory held by Israel.
"This concept of unilateral withdrawals has collapsed," he said.
"This policy has expressed weakness and above all was conceived by our enemies as a weakness. It should be replaced by a policy of force, deterrence, victory and reciprocity."
Netanyahu is in an ideal position to challenge for the premiership again, as Olmert's Kadima suffers a string of setbacks and its stalwarts hit by scandal.
Defence Minister Amir Peretz's popularity is at all-time low, paying the price for his lack of military experience that many, including within the ranks of the army, believe cost Israel a more decisive victory against Hezbollah.
"If the movement of disgruntled reservists snowballs, the government will be seriously threatened," political analyst Hanan Kristal told AFP.
"Israelis believed the war was justified but it was badly managed," said Kristal, giving Olmert and embattled army chief Dan Halutz no more than six months before they would have to resign.
Justice Minister Haim Ramon, a vocal proponent of the "convergence plan", faces an indictment for sexual harassment while Olmert himself faces a probe into a property deal.
All recent opinion polls show that many Israelis believe the Jewish state did not win the war against Hezbollah and have little faith in the government.
SOURCE