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Last update - 08:19 22/09/2008 ANALYSIS / Ehud Olmert is a victim of his own greed By Yossi Sarid Tags: Ehud Olmert, Yossi Sarid  When all is said and done, there is something sad about seeing a prime minister leave and never return to public life. In spite of everything, it is sad when the doors are locked behind him and he departs, somewhat lonely, and the chances of missing him later are not very great. Weep sore for him that goeth away and the voice of supplication is not heard. Perhaps only his closest aides, and a few personal friends, will wipe away a tear. Ehud Olmert is a victim of himself; his beginning determined his ultimate fate. From the moment he decided on a political career, he should have made another decision, concerning which was more important to him: status or money, soul or possessions, public life or personal life. And he should not have confused them. Olmert wanted to enjoy both worlds and thus he lost both. He did not understand soon enough that the job and the status carry obligations. Advertisement As prime minister he had actually tried harder and had been more cautious, but it was already too late. His past pursued him like a shadow, and caught up with him. He has no one to blame but himself. He had directed his whole life toward becoming prime minister, and that's no easy life. Every step, every act, every statement - all are directed toward a single goal, to which one's whole life is in thrall. Only a very few have the privilege, only one at a time. What joy, what satisfaction. And what bitter disappointment. Not only is he going, but disgrace and fury surround him. Yesterday we saw a caricature in one of the newspapers: Olmert is still at his desk, standing, and Tzipi Livni is at the door and he says to her: "I'll just collect the last envelopes and I'll be out of here." Who would want to be prime minister if that is the way it ends? Sad, and very insulting. That is the worst thing that can happen to a politician - to be humiliated. It's better to be hated. He certainly must be preoccupied with the question of what will remain, what he is leaving for those who come after him. Not a lot, to tell the truth. A whole life that ends at rock bottom: He leaves a dejected national mood, lack of faith in leadership, unfinished and unraveling agreements, missed opportunities, revulsion at corruption, fear of violence, crumbling government institutions, a bruised army, an undermined court and great anxiety over the future. For the first time people are asking about tomorrow and they do not have a clear answer. The successors, we concede, do not inspire faith and confidence. They seem frantic, as if possessed by a dybbuk; self-absorbed. They certainly could run a state without any of its citizens. And one feels an urge to tell them: You stay here, we'll go to hell. And in hell there is a ballot box in which to place our blank slips of paper. Related articles: Livni offers to make Barak 'full partner' in new government Netanyahu asks Shas to back bid for early general elections ANALYSIS / Even Assad has a better opinion of Livni than Barak Bookmark to del.icio.us   Rose laid to rest Mother, grandfather indicted for murder of 4-year-old Rose Pizem. Obama's tribute Obama lauds Olmert, says he's looking forward to working with successor.   1.   A boil on Israel`s posterior, lanced 03:05  |  Gideon Reader 22/09/08   2.   #1....Gideon Reader 03:52  |  Nemesis 22/09/08   3.   Why is he doing still in office? 04:07  |  Jew 22/09/08   4.   "When all is said & Done" Olmert is just like Kadima! 04:31  |  Akram Zekaria 22/09/08   5.   A few things are true, Livni is not Pm with 40,000 votes 04:54  |  Dish It Out 22/09/08   6.   Wait a minute, a coalition government has to be formed first... 05:34  |  Smadar 22/09/08   7.   Great analysis Yossi, well said 06:05  |  John 22/09/08   8.   Olmert`s Political Demise makes good reading...... 06:41  |  Dagma 22/09/08   9.   SARID IS GOOD AT BLABERING, NOT AT DOING 06:49  |  Jorge 22/09/08   10.   Ehud Olmert 07:07  |  Yoel 22/09/08   11.   No boundaries... all-in-a-good-cause... 07:37  |  Esther 22/09/08   12.   Very nice Yossi! And think what Truman said: 08:49  |  S 22/09/08   13.   Olmert`s view was selfish 09:03  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 22/09/08   14.   Not as clever a thief as Sarid 09:09  |  Ilan 22/09/08   15.   Olmert`s `epitaphs` make good reading,,,,,,, 09:27  |  Natasha 22/09/08   16.   Olmert was not the victim, we were. 10:32  |  Tzfonit 22/09/08   17.   olmerde imagined a sellout to the usa 10:35  |  victor hardman 22/09/08   18.   The reason why Olmert will be remembered quite well..... 10:52  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/09/08   19.   nothing sad about a guy who retires with a great pension $$$ 11:57  |  abe avinu 22/09/08   20.   THIS IS WHY I CALL THESE ANIMALS DOERS OF EVIL? 12:48  |  HAFIZ KAZI 22/09/08   21.   Ehud Olmert`s greed. 13:06  |  David Nigel Braham 22/09/08   22.   Good Riddance 13:27  |  eva 22/09/08   23.   Ilan of Ariel #14 14:50  |  Esther 22/09/08   24.   For Esther, #23 15:49  |  eva 22/09/08   25.   To Yoel # 10 - Olmert`s Peace? - or just a PIECE 15:51  |  Dagma 22/09/08   26.   Great article,pity Sarid didn`t say the same about Rabin who had 16:56  |  Absolute Sweden 22/09/08   27.   Victims 17:36  |  Arie 22/09/08   28.   rather amusing!! 18:03  |  khairi janbek 22/09/08   29.   What does this malarkey mean? 22:51  |  michael nathanson 22/09/08   30.   He`s a Leech victim 23:17  |  paul 22/09/08   31.   Israel Needs New Leaders 00:27  |  Baruch Gold 23/09/08

Read & React The speech Sarah Palin never gave: Ahmadinejad dreams of Final Solution Responses: 148 Livni offers Barak 'full partnership' in coalition Responses: 60 IDF intel chief: Iran 'galloping toward nuclear bomb' Responses: 118 Iranians in N.Y. rally: 'Ahmadinejad, why do you execute children?' Responses: 191 IDF soldier blinded in one eye after Palestinian woman throws acid at him Responses: 97 More Headlines 02:48 19 hurt as terrorist plows car into Jerusalem crowd 02:32 ANALYSIS / The latest J'lem attack - be prepared for more 01:01 Labor lays out demands for joining Livni coalition 03:47 ANALYSIS / How far is Livni willing to go to build a coalition? 03:53 Security cabinet to discuss terror threats against Israelis abroad 00:32 Thousands attend anti-Iran rally organized by Jewish groups in New York 18:28 Iraqi lawmaker may face death for visiting Israel, supporting peace 04:16 Never mind the markets, Bronfman is more interested in Limmud 18:45 IDF soldier blinded in one eye after Palestinian woman throws acid in his face 01:58 Survey: Alarmed Israelis plan to tighten belts 01:52 Living in Tel Aviv may be expensive, but dying is cheap 01:38 Health Ministry: Working night shifts raises cancer risk 00:28 Egypt FM: Hostages seized on a safari in Egypt released, safe 15:42 Obama pays tribute to Olmert, looks forward to working with successor Previous Editions Select Day 22 sep 21 sep 19 sep 18 sep 17 sep 16 sep 15 sep 14 sep 12 sep 11 sep 10 sep 09 sep

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