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Oz (L) receives Prince of Asturias award for Letters from Crown Prince Felipe. (Reuters)
Last update - 17:21 28/10/2007
Amos Oz, in Spain, says he doubts the government is brave enough for peace
By Akiva Eldar, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Tags: Amos Oz, Israel 

OVIEDO, Spain - Author Amos Oz, who was recently invited to meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, says he does not trust the country's current political leadership and that it does not have the courage to reach an agreement with the Palestinians.

Oz refused to comment directly on his meeting with Olmert, which was brokered by MK Haim Oron of Meretz, but he praised the prime minister for publicly advocating a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Nevertheless, Oz believes Israel's government is acting like a doctor who refuses to carry out a critical operation, even though the patient is willing.
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"Despite the fact that the public is not dancing in the streets, it is ready for a solution based on the Clinton plan, the Taba Accords and the Geneva Initiative," Oz said, warning that it would be a "catastrophe" to miss out on the opportunity offered by the Annapolis summit and the rift between Fatah and Hamas.

Oz called on the cabinet to agree to a cease-fire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, noting that Israel has observed cease-fires and truces with Arab states. He said that even though Hamas does not want peace negotiations with Israel, a cease-fire would make it easier for Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to advance the negotiations and reach an agreement with Israel.

Oz expressed reservations about the threats to attack Iran's nuclear facilities and suggested instituting a policy of mutual deterrence. He pointed out that no one was suggesting an attack on Pakistan, a problematic Islamic state that already has nuclear weapons.

"In another 15 years everyone will have nuclear arms, and the balance of terror will remove the threat of nuclear attack," Oz said.

Speaking with Haaretz a few hours before receiving the 2007 Prince of Asturias Award for Letters in this northern Spanish city, Oz suggested that organized tours of the Spanish cities where Jewish heritage flourished be arranged for Israeli teens so they could learn that Europe is not only a place of persecution and exile for Jews.

He criticized the way in which Israeli school tours of Poland are carried out.

"I am sorry that these trips have been turned into [opportunities for] nationalistic education. I wouldn't permit visits to the concentration camps unless they were combined with meetings with youths, educators and Righteous Gentiles, and with visits to Jewish population centers, where a rich culture grew for a thousand years. What would we say if, after we reach peace with the Arab states, young Arabs were to visit Deir Yassin and return home?"

Other recipients of this year's Prince of Asturias Award in 2007 include Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, Al Gore and Bob Dylan.

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      1.   OZ is Right 01:21  |  Moshe 28/10/07
      2.   The Public is Ready ? Hold a referendum or election and find out. 01:38  |  Mike 28/10/07
      3.   It takes "bravery" to accept millions of Palestinian "refugees"? 01:40  |  McQueen 28/10/07
      4.   BE BRAVE,RETAKE GAZA,SINAI ELIMINATE PALESTINIAN TERRORIST STATE) 02:05  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 28/10/07
      5.   Oz the idiot is now speaking for the public? 02:27  |  Steven 28/10/07
      6.   a brave man does not destroy his country 02:29  |  david 28/10/07
      7.   Not "brave" enough or not "dumm" enough !? 02:41  |  Michael 28/10/07
      8.   Should be `doubts Pals brave enough for peace` 02:42  |  Yosef 28/10/07
      9.   `Wiz of Oz` represents those who will profit from Israel`s Demise 03:02  |  Pavel 28/10/07
      10.   Oz an other leftist who want sacrifice his nation for Nobel Prize 04:17  |  e.m 28/10/07
      11.   Disproportionate response? 05:08  |  Stanley 28/10/07
      12.   authors full mof ego can talk, take chances in books bear no rela 05:24  |  ralph 28/10/07
      13.   Oz is a good writer. (period). 05:47  |  Fortuna Benmayor 28/10/07
      14.   For David # 6 05:49  |  Fortuna Benmayor 28/10/07
      15.   OZ is a Fresh Israeli Thinker 06:10  |  Markus 28/10/07
      16.   Thank you Amos OZ 06:12  |  Danite 28/10/07
      17.   Negotations meaningless in absence of Palestinian unity 06:19  |  George Fink 28/10/07
      18.   Top $$/Fame for Competition Winner # 1 Articulate Israel Breaker 06:20  |  Pavel 28/10/07
      19.   The magic land of Oz 06:23  |  Castor Troy 28/10/07
      20.   Mr. Oz 07:14  |  avrumiye 28/10/07
      21.   # 8 Israel is not "making" but "talking" concessions 07:50  |  Kris 28/10/07
      22.   Oz for president !! 08:25  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/10/07
      23.   When you Wish upon a Star? 09:35  |  FOX 28/10/07
      24.   On celebrity opinions 09:47  |  Clickfool 28/10/07
      25.   The lack of certainty is there on both sides 09:48  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 28/10/07
      26.   Oz confuses bravery with stupidity. 10:02  |  bat yam 28/10/07
      27.   Fortuna benmayor #13 10:04  |  S 28/10/07
      28.   WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THE PEACE ? 10:16  |  Atilla 28/10/07
      29.   Amos Oz Makes Wise Observations 10:18  |  Tzfonit 28/10/07
      30.   WHY ISRAEL HAS NON STOP MERCYLESS OVER PALESTINE ? 10:24  |  Atilla 28/10/07
      31.   Where is the Amos Oz of the Palestinians? 10:25  |  TruthMonger 28/10/07
      32.   Amos Oz, miles and miles ahead of Israels "silent majority"..... 10:25  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/10/07
      33.   IF ISRAEL LOSES THE CONTROL ON TODAYS PALESTINE... ! 10:33  |  Atilla 28/10/07
      34.   WHO HAS CONTROL OVER ISRAEL`S FUTURE ? 10:40  |  Atilla 28/10/07
      35.   WHAT ARE WORSTS IN ISRAEL ? 10:43  |  Atilla 28/10/07
      36.   So ! 10:50  |  Atilla 28/10/07
      37.   Romantic notions and reality do not mix.He means well 10:53  |  PETER S.M. 28/10/07
      38.   Speaking of courage 10:56  |  Frank 28/10/07
      39.   On celebrity opinions 11:02  |  Daniel W 28/10/07
      40.   Peace. Is this the planet Zargon? 11:14  |  H 28/10/07
      41.   # 31 "Where is the Amos Oz of the Palestinians...???" 11:50  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/10/07
      42.   Atilla 12:06  |  Israeli lady 28/10/07
      43.   voice of reason 12:11  |  ravi 28/10/07
      44.   to FOX & Danite 12:22  |  goldenberg 28/10/07
      45.   love from Atilla to Israeli Lady :) 12:29  |  ... 28/10/07
      46.   Taba+Geneve+..=recognizing pal "right of return" 12:51  |  Absolute Sweden 28/10/07
      47.   The nuclear wonderland of OZ 12:53  |  Jonathan S 28/10/07
      48.   Not just Courage! It lacks Credibility and Strength too! 13:22  |  Sharif Hafez 28/10/07
      49.   Love from Israeli Lady to Atilla 13:23  |  ... 28/10/07
      50.   with friends..... 13:24  |  aline 28/10/07
      51.   # 2 I agree even though I have been a suporter of " Peace Now" 13:26  |  Max Zinger,P.Chimist 28/10/07
      52.   loco y gili 13:33  |  sam el llanito 28/10/07
      53.   Oz`s remarks prove that he is dangerously utopian 13:36  |  David Hoffman 28/10/07
      54.   What does Mr Oz believes it would happen 13:38  |  KUTW 28/10/07
      55.   idiots and theories have destroyed this world 13:44  |  victor hardman 28/10/07
      56.   Swiss Dino and Amos Oz 13:47  |  Alicia 28/10/07
      57.   Reply to Steven (Post No. 5) 14:11  |  Johnny Weintraub 28/10/07
      58.   Reply to George Fink (Post No. 17) 14:19  |  Johnny Weintraub 28/10/07
      59.   amos oz 14:19  |  hannah b 28/10/07
      60.   Jonathan S in wonderland.#47 14:19  |  Hubal 28/10/07
      61.   #41 swiss abbas a moderate ? 14:22  |  duncan 28/10/07
      62.   #22 swiss, israelis are smarter than oz 14:30  |  duncan 28/10/07
      63.   Are the Arabs in general and the Palestinian Arabs in particular 14:31  |  Dudi 28/10/07
      64.   Olmert lacks not only courage but vision and talent too 14:31  |  Tosefta 28/10/07
      65.   64# Tosefta. The one that has nothing new. 14:58  |  Akram Zekaria 28/10/07
      66.   The Prince of Asturias award. 15:01  |  sandra chitayat 28/10/07
      67.   # 56 Alicia in wonderland.....(1) 15:04  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/10/07
      68.   # 63 Arabs have stated the existance of Israel since Fez 15:11  |  Sharif Hafez 28/10/07
      69.   End the diplomatic double standard (see #5) 15:12  |  D.R. Zukerman 28/10/07
      70.   # 56 Alicia in wonderland (2) 15:13  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/10/07