Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., April 24, 2008 Nisan 19, 5768 | | Israel Time: 20:30 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

British Prime Minister Tony Blair greeting Ehud Olmert at 10, Downing Street in London on Monday. (Reuters) Last update - 07:44 13/06/2006 Olmert: I won't divide Jerusalem or give away Temple Mount By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press LONDON - Speaking publicly for the first time about the future of Jerusalem, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Jewish community leaders in London on Monday that he had no intention of dividing the capital or giving away sovereignty of the Temple Mount. British Prime Minister Tony Blair refrained earlier Monday from endorsing Olmert's plan for a unilateral withdrawal, calling instead for a "negotiated two-state solution," to the Middle East conflict, something which he said the world agreed upon. Olmert said Monday after talks with Blair that Israel is "prepared to pull out from most" of the West Bank and create a "contiguous" Palestinian state. Advertisement At a press conference after the talks, Olmert told reporters that the "basic precondition for future negotiations was to be the end of terror in the Middle East," but said that he would "make every possible effort to engage in dialogue with the Palestinians." The "first priority for Israel is negotiations," Olmert added, saying "the status quo is the enemy of everything that we are in favor of." He said that Israel is "ready to go a long way in order to convince [the Palestinians] that it is preferable and worthwhile to meet... the road map." "Our task in the international community is to try and give the best chance possible for a negotiated settlement to take place," Blair said. He said that he told then newly inaugurated U.S. President George W. Bush in 2001 that, "you've got to get behind a two-state solution." Turning to the issue of Iran and its nuclear program, the Olmert said that Israel "will not tolerate nuclear weapons in the hands of Iran." "For reasons which I do not think I have to explain, [a nuclear Iran] is a serious danger to the entire world," Olmert said. He added that he was prepared to take "extraordinary measures in order to stop it." Ahead of the talks, Blair earlier Monday underlined his preference for a negotiated settlement between Israel and Palestinians. "We recognize equally that there has to be a viable partner to negotiate with on the Palestinian side, but we believe negotiated settlement is in the interests of all sides," said Blair's spokesman, who speaks on condition of anonymity as he is a nonpolitical civil servant. "Let's be clear, everyone knows what the answer to the issue is, it is a two state solution, and therefore the sooner both sides start talking about that, the better," the spokesman said. During their meeting Monday, Olmert was to explain the convergence plan, which includes evacuating most of the West Bank settlements and redefining the border along the lines of the separation fence. Olmert was expected to tell Blair he would prefer to hold negotiations with the Palestinian Authority but will stand firm on the PA fulfilling the conditions of the Quartet and the demands outlined by the road map peace plan: recognition of Israel, fighting terror and upholding previous agreements. Blair and Olmert have met three times in the past - twice in London and once in Jerusalem - and they have spoken a few times on the phone in the past few months. Olmert considers Blair a personal friend and a British source said Monday's meeting is expected to be successful. The two leaders will hold a news conference at 10 Downing Street, an unusual event when it comes to Israeli prime ministers. Friday's incident in the Gaza Strip, in which seven members of a Palestinian family were killed on the beach, is casting a pall over the visit. "There are bound to be reactions in the British press," Olmert said en route to London. "But one cannot expect to be exempt from this. It must be put in the right proportion and context." He described the incident as "regrettable and tragic" but said he would not comment until the official investigation was completed. He said it was doubtful the Palestinians were killed by an Israeli shell. "Past experience has taught that it is not impossible that a myth would be created that has no relation to facts," he said. Olmert said UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan had contacted him about the incident and he informed him of what he knew so far. A source in the prime minister's entourage said it was possible no one would know the truth because the Palestinians had not agreed to autopsies and the wounded who reached Israel had had the shrapnel removed from their bodies. Asked about his daughter's participation in Saturday night's demonstration outside the chief of staff's house to protest the Gaza incident, Olmert replied: "Each one of us has the right to express his views." The prime minister's entourage is limited. His wife, Aliza, did not join him this time and he sat alone in the plane, listening to music. He is accompanied by the head of his staff, Yoram Turbowicz, his military adjutant, his deputy head of staff, his bureau chief, his media adviser and his adviser on political affairs. Britain's ambassador to Israel, Simon McDonald, and the Israeli ambassador to London, Zvi Hefetz, also accompanied him on the plane. Olmert will also meet Monday with the leader of the opposition, David Cameron Bookmark to del.icio.us   Sex, lies and videotape 3 kibbutz residents suspected of filming themselves sexually assaulting Danish tourists. Big brother is watching An IDF soldier has been jailed for posting sensitive photos on Facebook.   1.   Those damn Brits 09:18  |  SLAVO 12/06/06   2.   Visit? Now? What`s the hell! 10:57  |  A.Gurvich 12/06/06   3.   olmert lying to blair 11:42  |  raymond deane 12/06/06   4.   What is Olmert doing touring while kassams rain on Sderot? 12:02  |  Nathan 12/06/06   5.   It`s called diplomacy 12:16  |  Helm 12/06/06   6.   Why isn`t he arrested on entry? 12:27  |  Henry 12/06/06   7.   Eager Irish snitch Raymond Deane,it`s Irish 12:48  |  Absolute Sweden 12/06/06   8.   We do not live alone 13:35  |  Gerry 12/06/06   9.   Israel is not a colony 13:39  |  Brod 12/06/06   10.   #9: Brod: Israel is not a colony 13:53  |  Stephen Murray 12/06/06   11.   Beyond comprehension 14:05  |  Sidney 12/06/06   12.   to #7 Henry 15:09  |  denon 12/06/06   13.   #10 Stephen Murray 15:35  |  Brod 12/06/06   14.   #13 Brod 16:35  |  Eorpa 12/06/06   15.   I hope to God the Parents of Tom Hurndal Will be there 17:00  |  Yaakov Sullivan 12/06/06   16.   9 Brod - Israel Need Explain Nothing 17:25  |  Mark of Lewiston 12/06/06   17.   #14 Eorpa 17:36  |  Brod 12/06/06   18.   murderer in london 17:37  |  Steve 12/06/06   19.   Pal`s--Put up or Shut up! 17:39  |  ATLAS 12/06/06   20.   IM MOVING TO THE WEST BANK 17:44  |  Nephtaly 12/06/06   21.   Olmert Is Clearly Wrong 18:01  |  Yishai Kohen 12/06/06   22.   Olmert, tell your people in Hebrew and Russian! 18:01  |  Ibrahim 12/06/06   23.   Arabs don`t want 2 state solution - want to destroy Israel ! 18:04  |  Michael 12/06/06   24.   Henry: think then post..if possible 18:05  |  yo 12/06/06   25.   #6 - what are you talking about ? You`re not making sense ! 18:09  |  Michael 12/06/06   26.   "killing 7 on the beach picnic in Gaza" 18:15  |  Henry 12/06/06   27.   contiguous state 18:17  |  Sam 12/06/06   28.   There already is one...Jordan, no need for second. 18:17  |  David 12/06/06   29.   #18 - accidents happen in war and this wasn`t Nomandy ! 18:20  |  Michael 12/06/06   30.   #20 - Not a bad idea - I might join you ! 18:22  |  Michael 12/06/06   31.   And while youre at it Steve 18:27  |  British Academic 12/06/06   32.   #18 Steve 18:30  |  Brod 12/06/06   33.   And a boycott of England, Steve Murray 18:33  |  British Academic 12/06/06   34.   stephen murrey 10 18:40  |  zionist forever 12/06/06   35.   Israel should not be in haste to withdraw 18:45  |  Shlomo from Tel-Aviv 12/06/06   36.   Henry 18:48  |  Isaac 12/06/06   37.   Contigious=cutting Israel in half by a corridor Gaza-WB 18:50  |  Absolute Sweden 12/06/06   38.   Olmert not willing to end the occupation 18:53  |  Phillies Wright 12/06/06   39.   Paraia state would be the outcome 18:55  |  The Queen 12/06/06   40.   # 1 Brits Slavo 18:58  |  John Isenhower 12/06/06   41.   Another Israeli Crime 19:04  |  Sami 12/06/06   42.   #3 the manas amarvel "he holds the whole world in his hands " 19:07  |  paul harris 12/06/06   43.   OLMERTS HEAD IS SO BIG HIS BRAINS HAVE FALLEN OUT 19:09  |  paul harris 12/06/06   44.   #10, again stay vague 19:11  |  Danny - Israeli one 12/06/06   45.   #15 YAAKOV YOU ALLITERATION IS FANTASTIC 19:11  |  paul harris 12/06/06   46.   #15, what myth would this be? 19:16  |  Danny - Israeli one 12/06/06   47.   Bible lessons - Brod #17 19:18  |  Student 12/06/06   48.   Re: Eorpa #14 19:24  |  Kate 12/06/06   49.   #38,$41 phillies/Sami There is No Occupation 19:47  |  Brod 12/06/06   50.   Stephen Murry - looking for another holocaust? 19:56  |  Michael 12/06/06   51.   # 4 I have never seen it 20:00  |  John Isenhower 12/06/06   52.   Blair meets Olmert, refrains from endorsing convergence plan 20:09  |  Palinirao 12/06/06   53.   Olmerts plan means end of land theft but.. 20:19  |  A Bethlehemite 12/06/06   54.   #47 Ben Gurion 20:24  |  Brod 12/06/06   55.   Blair has no right 20:47  |  Bobby Sands 12/06/06   56.   Poor Brod - all the frustration 20:58  |  Student 12/06/06   57.   Reality check for Olmert 21:11  |  Danite 12/06/06   58.   #38 mr wright is wrong ending occupation does not bring peace 21:26  |  paul harris 12/06/06   59.   #47 goodbye mr chips and ben gurion 21:28  |  paul harris 12/06/06   60.   Mosada all over again 22:03  |  Cadavre 12/06/06   61.   #20 22:28  |  Alan 12/06/06   62.   #54, now you are just being silly 22:28  |  Danny - Israeli one 12/06/06   63.   Convergence or divergence? 22:40  |  Ben Gurion 12/06/06   64.   #59 22:41  |  Alan 12/06/06   65.   Raymond Deane the mythomaniac 22:46  |  Jake 12/06/06   66.   Mr. Ben Gurion - Corrupt Occupation 22:50  |  Mark Lincoln 12/06/06   67.   Ibrahim, call off the cavalry in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu 22:52  |  Jake 12/06/06   68.   Next Stop 22:54  |  Mark Lincoln 12/06/06   69.   #57 Student needs to do more reading 22:56  |  Brod 12/06/06   70.   Henry - it was 22:56  |  Mark Lincoln 12/06/06