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Last update - 00:30 11/11/2008
Olmert speech urging settlers to prepare for withdrawal sparks outrage
By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel news, Ehud Olmert 

A speech by Ehud Olmert at a special session of Knesset on Monday sparked a storm as the outgoing prime minister cautioned settlers in the West Bank to prepare for a withdrawal.

Speaking during a session in honor of slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, Olmert said "we were wrong, we didn't see the long term," referring to the settlements, which were initially encouraged by the state. "The truth will force us to rip away many parts of our homeland in the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Golan Heights."

Olmert echoed the address he had given earlier at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem during a national ceremony commemorating Rabin, during which he said that Israel will have to cede land in order to achieve peace with its neighbors.
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Chairman of the National Union-NRP faction Uri Ariel and party member MK Aryeh Eldad walked out of the Knesset hall in protest of Olmert's words, saying that the outgoing prime minister made use of a national event to promote his political views.

Likud faction chairman Gideon Sa'ar accused Olmert of "cynically taking advantage of a state ceremony for a political speech in the spirit of the extreme left."

Ariel said that "this is an unseemly use of a memorial service to incite against certain parts of the population. It is disrespectful to Rabin, who was a man who knew how to take responsibility for his actions, while Olmert, who is suspected of corruption both personally and publicly, takes advantage of his memory."

Eldad echoed his colleague's sentiments, saying "Olmert took advantage of a national ceremony to give a speech from the school of the dazed left of the most extreme kind."

"We can't tolerate a failed prime minister, accused of corruption, using the little time he has left between police questionings to call for the destruction of the Jewish settlement in Israel."


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      1.   Olmert is right but much too late 20:34  |  David 10/11/08
      2.   "unseemly use of a memorial service" 20:43  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 10/11/08
      3.   And just who voted in this corrupt villain? And which parties... 20:51  |  bat yam 10/11/08
      4.   Then there will be Civil war 20:51  |  Ralph Levy 10/11/08
      5.   # 2 CJK 20:57  |  Axel 10/11/08
      6.   Sadly, Cipora speaks some truth 21:02  |  Tim 10/11/08
      7.   Olmert`s speech 21:03  |  Brod 10/11/08
      8.   #5, Axel 21:09  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 10/11/08
      9.   dont say we were wrong -say you had twisted thinking. 21:58  |  Hal. 10/11/08
      10.   olmert is will be dead in no time 22:24  |  supporter 10/11/08
      11.   I didnt think Olmert could be anymore of a disgrace... 22:29  |  Jimmy 10/11/08
      12.   the truth hurts 22:30  |  sam i am 10/11/08
      13.   Olmert can afford to tell the truth. His political career is over 22:31  |  Natallie Durson 10/11/08
      14.   Who is the enemy? 22:33  |  Baz Mann 10/11/08
      15.   To Halitosis, #9 22:33  |  Jordan 10/11/08
      16.   Axel Germany has always been the Moral compass of the world 22:35  |  Jonathan 10/11/08
      17.   sooner or later, Arabs are going to attack...why reduce our strat 22:38  |  Joe 10/11/08
      18.   This all relies on trusting the arabs to stop ALL violence..... 22:40  |  Jack 10/11/08
      19.   To Axel, there is no occupation, and there is definitely no.... 22:43  |  Jordan 10/11/08
      20.   To BAz MAnn...there has been no peace with arabs for over 60 year 22:45  |  Jimmy 10/11/08
      21.   #3 Ralph Levy then so be it 22:47  |  Chris Linthwaite 10/11/08
      22.   Olmert is still dangerous 22:48  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 10/11/08
      23.   # 19 jordan 22:51  |  Axel 10/11/08
      24.   Cipora #2... Olmert is a penitent, and hence his zeal... 22:54  |  Esther 10/11/08
      25.   Somebody needs to stand up to left-wing radicals 23:08  |  Yossi 10/11/08
      26.   # 8 cjk 23:10  |  Axel 10/11/08
      27.   # 16 jonathan 23:14  |  Axel 10/11/08
      28.   #24, Esther 23:16  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 10/11/08
      29.   RABBI stay out of this discussion -or live in israel 23:17  |  HAL 10/11/08
      30.   its really a petty olmert is seeing the light 00:44  |  like St. Paul 11/11/08
      31.   What is the alternative that the settlers want? 00:49  |  Roger 11/11/08
      32.   Corrupt politician loses his mind 00:54  |  Realist 11/11/08
      33.   Seeing the light or getting even with those who nailed him? 00:59  |  just wondering 11/11/08
      34.   Re;Alex #23 01:06  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 11/11/08
      35.   # 2 cipora re: olmert 01:07  |  eric 11/11/08
      36.   Poor babies, face to face with the truth that hurts... 01:12  |  BBSNews 11/11/08
      37.   Really who cares what Olmert says - Benny Begin is back in town. 01:21  |  bat yam 11/11/08
      38.   Axel that`s a ridiculous comparison 14:35  |  Peter Williams 11/11/08
      39.   withdrawals are not the traitor oldmert`s middle name;it`s his 16:48  |  glenna 11/11/08
      40.   # 38 peter 18:05  |  Axel 11/11/08
      41.   #14 00:30  |  Pat 12/11/08
      42.   Axel 00:34  |  Peter Williams 12/11/08
      43.   Axel 00:47  |  Trisha 12/11/08
      44.   Axel, implying 07:06  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/11/08
      45.   # 43 trisha 12:35  |  Axel 12/11/08
      46.   Uh oh, uh oh! 19:41  |  ballistic 12/11/08
      47.   cjk 2 00:03  |  potobac 13/11/08
      48.   Withdrawal and Olmert 05:56  |  Cotterall and Elaine 13/11/08
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