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PM at final cabinet meeting: Greater Israel is no more By Barak Ravid Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday reiterated his view that the vision of Israel retaining the West Bank and Gaza Strip is finished. "Greater Israel is over. There is no such thing. Anyone who talks that way is deluding himself," Olmert told the cabinet during its weekly meeting. Advertisement He noted that this had not always been his stance: "During Camp David, I thought that [then prime minister] Ehud Barak's concessions were too much, and I told him so," he said, referring to the Israeli-Palestinian talks in July 2000. "I thought that the land from the Jordan River to the [Mediterranean] Sea was all ours. But ultimately, after a long and tortured process, I arrived at the conclusion that we must share with those we live with if we don't want to be a binational state. "Forty years after the Six-Day War, the international community's willingness to accept Israel as a binational state is growing," Olmert said. It is true that negotiations have repeatedly failed due to Palestinian rather than Israeli intransigence, he continued, "but that misses the point" - which is that "time is not on Israel's side." "Some day soon, sooner than we think, we will long for the solutions that some of us reject today," he warned. The meeting focused on a bill that would compensate West Bank settlers who voluntarily evacuate their homes even before a final-status deal is signed. The plan is expected to cost some NIS 2.5 billion. Most families would receive NIS 1.1 million apiece, but those who choose to relocate to the Negev would get an additional 25 percent, while those who move to the Galilee would get an extra 15 percent. According to Vice Premier Haim Ramon, who presented the proposal, 18 percent of the over 60,000 settlers currently living east of the separation fence - some 11,000 settlers - told a survey conducted by the Prime Minister's Office that they would be willing to relocate. "The evacuation of West Bank residents is an unavoidable step for those who believe in two states for two peoples - and that includes most of the Israeli public," Ramon said. He added that Israel's position in the negotiations with the Palestinians, as well as in the eyes of the world, would be bolstered by an announcement that it is moving to end its presence in the West Bank. Ramon said he would submit a formal bill to the cabinet following Wednesday's Kadima party leadership primary. However, all four of the candidates to replace Olmert, who has pledged to resign following the primary, opposed the bill, saying it was premature as long as the final Israeli-Palestinian border remained unknown and was liable to undermine talks with the Palestinians. Shas Party Chairman Eli Yishai also opposed the plan, saying his ultra-Orthodox party would do everything in its power to prevent it from being implemented. "Whoever brings about the evacuation of settlers will lead to the evacuation of Jerusalem and the eradication of Jewish identity," Yishai said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Saddam in Tel Aviv Israel's Igal Naor 'never wanted to play Hamlet, only Saddam.' The preacher Archbishop Tutu to UN: Israel may have committed war crime.

Read & React Olmert: There's no such thing as 'Greater Israel' anymore Responses: 205 Police yet to conduct arrests, interviews on settler rampage Responses: 56 Olmert voices sorrow for plight of Palestinian, Jewish refugees Responses: 70 Police to open criminal probe of pro-draft dodging group Responses: 42 Haaretz.com TV: Jihad claims Qassam attack on Sderot Responses: 69 More Headlines 23:41 Syrian Reform Party says aide to Hamas Chief shot dead in Syrian street 01:32 Counterterrorism unit urges Israelis: Leave Sinai immediately 21:39 Palestinian stabs IDF soldier in West Bank 01:12 Former U.S. secretaries of state say they support talks with Iran 00:21 IAEA says Iran stalling probe into alleged atom bomb research 23:51 Israel to UNIFIL: Stop ignoring Hezbollah violations of UN resolution 1701 00:45 Experts: Israel heading for economic crisis in 2009 12:05 The Jewish Agency's smart decision on aliyah 21:42 Poll: Livni will beat Mofaz in a landslide to clinch Kadima leadership 22:57 Top Nazi hunter fights for extradition of suspects in U.S., Austria, Hungary 21:53 Archbishop Tutu to UN: Israel may have committed war crime 18:37 Israel's Igal Naor 'never wanted to play Hamlet, only Saddam' 13:59 Olmert voices sorrow for plight of Palestinian, Jewish refugees 19:55 Israeli Muslims set to spread environmental message to Arab world Previous Editions Select Day 15 sep 14 sep 12 sep 11 sep 10 sep 09 sep 08 sep 07 sep 05 sep 04 sep 03 sep 02 sep

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