Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., November 26, 2008 Cheshvan 28, 5769 | | Israel Time: 05:15 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 05:04 23/11/2008 As he heads to Washington, Olmert prepares his comeback By Aluf Benn Tags: ehud olmert  It is difficult to know what goes on between Olmert and his investigators, or what may yet be uncovered against him. The leaks from law enforcement agencies saying an indictment is near have so far come to nothing. Even in the most serious case, the Rishon Tours double-billing affair, it is unclear whether police will be able to implicate Olmert conclusively. Advertisement If Olmert really hopes to return to power, that would explain his recent statements about the need for Israel to leave the territories. He is trying to create a narrative: He was a courageous premier who went further than his predecessors toward a historic compromise with the Palestinians and Syria. If he had stayed in office, he would have achieved peace on both fronts. But he was booted out of office due to dirty tricks by the police, prosecutors and plotting politicians. Olmert sees that Benjamin Netanyahu is now poised to win the election and replace him as prime minister. Yet Netanyahu was also humiliated and dismissed; he, too, faced investigations that were closed without charges. If he can do it, why not Olmert? Those in the prime minister's inner circle deny the rumors claiming that Olmert views Netanyahu as the most experienced and suitable person to replace him. Olmert insists that he supports Tzipi Livni, and that Netanyahu's plan to shelve diplomatic negotiations in favor of an "economic peace" will complicate things with the American administration and the international community. Moreover, Olmert views Netanyahu as indirectly responsible for Israel Hayom, a newspaper owned by Netanyahu's good friend and supporter, Sheldon Adelson, which presented Olmert as corrupt and unworthy to lead. Olmert begins his farewell visit to Washington Sunday. On Monday he will dine with President George Bush at the White House. The agenda is meager, according to pre-visit briefings: Olmert will try to anchor diplomatic understandings attained with the Bush administration as part of the "transition file" to be given to Obama. The two will discuss Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' possible resignation on January 9, four years after taking office. Olmert will also seek a promise for the F-22, the best plane in the world, and raise the issue of releasing Jonathan Pollard, who was sentenced to life for spying for Israel. Related articles: Defense establishment paper: Golan for Syria peace, plan for Iran strike Obama's Mideast peace platform is coming into focus Abbas calls on Obama to enact Arab peace plan as soon as he takes office Bookmark to del.icio.us   The 'beauty machine' Want to optimize your looks without radically altering them? now you can. Lebanon needs unity Khamenei to Lebanese President: Iran will always stand beside Lebanon.   1.   Most curious 06:24  |  Mark Lincoln 23/11/08   2.   It is harder to imagine two men who have 06:29  |  Mark Lincoln 23/11/08   3.   no chance on Pollard 07:05  |  RW 23/11/08   4.   I think Pollard is lucky he wasn`t hanged. 08:55  |  Lou Medel 23/11/08   5.   #3 RW - No constituency for traitors, eh? 09:32  |  Yoel Keren 23/11/08   6.   #2 special day today I AGREE WITH MARK 09:35  |  victor hardman 23/11/08   7.   Comeback? He`ll be lucky to stay out of JAIL! 09:37  |  Yaakov K. 23/11/08   8.   Interestingly, US spies for Russia got out much sooner, 09:43  |  Rob 23/11/08   9.   rob 10:04  |  potobac 23/11/08   10.   Potobac, read again! 10:42  |  Rob 23/11/08   11.   //2-mark 10:46  |  james 23/11/08   12.   Two lame ducks at dinner 12:10  |  Steven 23/11/08   13.   Pollard serves a greater purpose where he is 12:50  |  Natallie Durson 23/11/08   14.   If He Gets the F22 for Israel, I Will Forgive Him... 19:02  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 23/11/08   15.   #3 He has no chance on any of the items, RW 01:49  |  Johnboy 24/11/08   16.   rob 10 11:14  |  potobac 24/11/08   17.   natalie durson 13 11:18  |  potobac 24/11/08   18.   #16 Potobac - Do you have ANY proof? 22:52  |  * BEN JABO 24/11/08

Read & React Olmert: History will owe Bush for setting Mideast on path to peace Responses: 106 Top UN official: Israel's policies are like apartheid of bygone era Responses: 198 Shas to seek payout for Jews deported from Arab countries Responses: 122 Two Israelis sentenced to death in Thailand for drug smuggling Responses: 60 More Headlines 03:46 Documents show IDF killed wanted men against court guidelines 00:59 Two Israelis drug smugglers sentenced to death in Thailand 03:14 Olmert to Bush: Peace deal still possible this year 03:27 Israel asks Bush to explain its 'special relationship' with U.S. to Obama 02:49 Olmert: If needed, force will be used to stop settler attacks on Palestinians 03:03 Israel to expel 2,000 Africans refugees who fled to Eilat 04:56 Fugitive American convicted of pedophilia arrested in Netanya 05:05 Israel nabs silver in world chess olympiad, its first ever medal 00:37 Report: Gates to stay on as U.S. defense secretary under Obama 03:17 VIDEO / Iran seeks death penalty for 3 accused of spying for Israel 21:10 Israeli 'beauty machine' helps optimize photographed faces 21:07 Noam Shalit to Olmert: Redeem your failures and bring Gilad home before you leave office 16:37 IAEA chief ElBaradei: Let Syria have nuclear aid 20:39 Top UN official: Israel's policies are like apartheid of bygone era Previous Editions Select Day 25 nov 24 nov 23 nov 21 nov 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov 17 nov 16 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov

Special Offers Advertisement Living in Israel Studying in English Click & Meet our students from all around the world Living in Israel Studying in English Click & Meet our students from all around the world Dan Boutique Jerusalem New Dan Hotel in Jerusalem Young, Fun & Distinctively Dan Book Now Online! Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Car rental in Israel Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates. Dial 013 for your long-distance calls and get all your money back US CITIZENS Vote for real change. Request your ballot today! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved