W-OLF
03-10-2006, 01:44 PM
Olmert Says Israel Will Impose Border
Published: 3/10/06, 7:24 AM EDT
JERUSALEM (AP) - In the absence of negotiations with the Palestinians, Israel will impose a border in the West Bank, build a wall and move all Jewish settlers to the Israeli side, acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in interviews published Friday.
The comments were his most detailed yet on how he plans to proceed if he wins March 28 elections. He is currently the front-runner. His plan includes setting Israel's borders by 2010 and establishing a deadline for what would appear to be a large-scale unilateral withdrawal from much of the West Bank.
While the plan would involve uprooting some Jewish settlements, it also would retain portions of the West Bank and beef up major settlements in those areas. Israel also would retain control over Jerusalem and link a large settlement to the city.
The plan falls well short of Palestinian claims to all the West Bank and east Jerusalem. It drew criticism from political opponents, who accused Olmert of jeopardizing the country's security, and Palestinian officials, who want a negotiated solution.
Olmert said he still hopes to reach a settlement, but the chances of a deal have dimmed with the Islamic militant Hamas' victory in Palestinian legislative elections. He told the Yediot Ahronot newspaper he would consult with world leaders to win recognition for the border, starting with President Bush.
Israel says it will only deal with the Hamas if it renounces violence and its calls for destruction of the Jewish state. The militant group rejects such demands despite international pressure.
The European Union reiterated Friday that will not provide funding to a Hamas-led Palestinian government unless Hamas gives up violence and endorses previous agreements between Israel and Palestinians.
Olmert also threatened to assassinate the incoming Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh if he is involved in terrorism.
"Anyone who is involved in planning terror attacks will be a legitimate target for liquidation," he told Yediot.
Olmert said Israel would set its border by rerouting the separation barrier it is building in the West Bank. He called the current barrier, which has drawn international criticism, a "security barrier" meant to prevent attacks.
"At the end of the process we will reach a complete separation from the vast majority of the Palestinian population," he told the Maariv daily.
He told Yediot that he would try to get Jewish settler leaders to agree to the new line, moving them into settlements he plans to incorporate into Israel.
"The fence that will be built ... will be the border line that will separate Israel and the Palestinians," he said. "Israelis will not live beyond the fence."
In the absence of peace talks, Olmert's unilateral approach is meant to solve Israel's main security problems. It follows unilateral pullout from the Gaza Strip last summer under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Olmert seems ready to go further than Sharon, who ruled out further unilateral action after the Gaza pullout. Olmert, a close Sharon confidant, took over as acting prime minister after the Sharon's stroke Jan. 4. Sharon, 78, remains in a coma.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat urged Israel to return to the bargaining table.
"Israel cannot determine my borders by dictating them to me. That only prolongs the conflict, rather than solving it," he said.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who favors a resumption of peace talks, remains in office and has been trying to work out a power-sharing agreement with Hamas.
In earlier interviews this week, Olmert said he would keep Gush Etzion and Maaleh Adumim, near Jerusalem, and Ariel, deep in the West Bank, as well as control over the Jordan River Valley, the line between Jordan and the West Bank.
Bush has backed Israel's claims to retaining some settlement blocs, but American officials have reacted coolly to Israeli claims on Ariel. Washington has also expressed displeasure over Israeli plans to link Maaleh Adumim to Jerusalem, despite Olmert's assertion in Yediot that the U.S. "has no doubt" it will happen.
Officials at the U.S. Embassy did not return a message seeking comment.
Olmert hinted that he is prepared to redraw Jerusalem's border, giving up a refugee camp on the city's outskirts. But he said the city's holy sites, including the Old City and Mount of Olives, would stay in Israeli hands.
Even with the settlement blocs under Israeli control, the plan would mean a pullout from most of the West Bank and removal of dozens of settlements.
Settler leader Bentzi Lieberman said the Gaza pullout was a surrender to Palestinian violence, and further unilateral action would threaten towns inside Israel.
"Now the Palestinians know that terrorism pays off," he said. "I think his plan is a serious danger to Israel."
Olmert's political rivals also attacked his plan.
Amir Peretz, leader of the centrist Labor Party, accused Olmert of "meticulously" copying the Labor Party's plan. "The only problem is who does Ehud Olmert intend to negotiate with," Peretz told Israel Radio.
credit BellSouth
Published: 3/10/06, 7:24 AM EDT
JERUSALEM (AP) - In the absence of negotiations with the Palestinians, Israel will impose a border in the West Bank, build a wall and move all Jewish settlers to the Israeli side, acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in interviews published Friday.
The comments were his most detailed yet on how he plans to proceed if he wins March 28 elections. He is currently the front-runner. His plan includes setting Israel's borders by 2010 and establishing a deadline for what would appear to be a large-scale unilateral withdrawal from much of the West Bank.
While the plan would involve uprooting some Jewish settlements, it also would retain portions of the West Bank and beef up major settlements in those areas. Israel also would retain control over Jerusalem and link a large settlement to the city.
The plan falls well short of Palestinian claims to all the West Bank and east Jerusalem. It drew criticism from political opponents, who accused Olmert of jeopardizing the country's security, and Palestinian officials, who want a negotiated solution.
Olmert said he still hopes to reach a settlement, but the chances of a deal have dimmed with the Islamic militant Hamas' victory in Palestinian legislative elections. He told the Yediot Ahronot newspaper he would consult with world leaders to win recognition for the border, starting with President Bush.
Israel says it will only deal with the Hamas if it renounces violence and its calls for destruction of the Jewish state. The militant group rejects such demands despite international pressure.
The European Union reiterated Friday that will not provide funding to a Hamas-led Palestinian government unless Hamas gives up violence and endorses previous agreements between Israel and Palestinians.
Olmert also threatened to assassinate the incoming Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh if he is involved in terrorism.
"Anyone who is involved in planning terror attacks will be a legitimate target for liquidation," he told Yediot.
Olmert said Israel would set its border by rerouting the separation barrier it is building in the West Bank. He called the current barrier, which has drawn international criticism, a "security barrier" meant to prevent attacks.
"At the end of the process we will reach a complete separation from the vast majority of the Palestinian population," he told the Maariv daily.
He told Yediot that he would try to get Jewish settler leaders to agree to the new line, moving them into settlements he plans to incorporate into Israel.
"The fence that will be built ... will be the border line that will separate Israel and the Palestinians," he said. "Israelis will not live beyond the fence."
In the absence of peace talks, Olmert's unilateral approach is meant to solve Israel's main security problems. It follows unilateral pullout from the Gaza Strip last summer under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Olmert seems ready to go further than Sharon, who ruled out further unilateral action after the Gaza pullout. Olmert, a close Sharon confidant, took over as acting prime minister after the Sharon's stroke Jan. 4. Sharon, 78, remains in a coma.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat urged Israel to return to the bargaining table.
"Israel cannot determine my borders by dictating them to me. That only prolongs the conflict, rather than solving it," he said.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who favors a resumption of peace talks, remains in office and has been trying to work out a power-sharing agreement with Hamas.
In earlier interviews this week, Olmert said he would keep Gush Etzion and Maaleh Adumim, near Jerusalem, and Ariel, deep in the West Bank, as well as control over the Jordan River Valley, the line between Jordan and the West Bank.
Bush has backed Israel's claims to retaining some settlement blocs, but American officials have reacted coolly to Israeli claims on Ariel. Washington has also expressed displeasure over Israeli plans to link Maaleh Adumim to Jerusalem, despite Olmert's assertion in Yediot that the U.S. "has no doubt" it will happen.
Officials at the U.S. Embassy did not return a message seeking comment.
Olmert hinted that he is prepared to redraw Jerusalem's border, giving up a refugee camp on the city's outskirts. But he said the city's holy sites, including the Old City and Mount of Olives, would stay in Israeli hands.
Even with the settlement blocs under Israeli control, the plan would mean a pullout from most of the West Bank and removal of dozens of settlements.
Settler leader Bentzi Lieberman said the Gaza pullout was a surrender to Palestinian violence, and further unilateral action would threaten towns inside Israel.
"Now the Palestinians know that terrorism pays off," he said. "I think his plan is a serious danger to Israel."
Olmert's political rivals also attacked his plan.
Amir Peretz, leader of the centrist Labor Party, accused Olmert of "meticulously" copying the Labor Party's plan. "The only problem is who does Ehud Olmert intend to negotiate with," Peretz told Israel Radio.
credit BellSouth