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Last update - 10:10 17/01/2008 He has no core By Israel Harel Tags: Ehud Olmert, PA, Israel  Ehud Olmert is determined to force the issue and achieve what his predecessors at the head of the government tried to achieve, at a terrible price in blood, in the past decade and a half: a final-status agreement. But the upcoming talks about core issues are likely merely to increase, as those that preceded them did, the tensions with the Arabs who do not want, and who never wanted, to accept the Jews' core demands: recognition of the right of the Jews to self-determination in the Land of Israel, and Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This mistaken bargaining on the part of Olmert, even though he automatically gets the support of the Left and the media, is likely to cause not only Palestinian violence but also a deep inner chasm in Israel. Olmert no doubt knows that if those who head the Palestinian Authority agree even to a very small part of his demands, and they are painfully minimalistic, their people will refuse to accept them and there will be no value to an agreement. On the other hand, the concessions in Jersualem and the "creative" recognition of the right of return, in return for Palestinian lip service will, like the Olso accords, receive the seal of an international agreement that the United States, among others, will put pressure on Israel to implement. Advertisement There is therefore no escaping the conclusion that the main reason why Olmert decided to deal with core issues can be found in the Winograd Report and the investigations being conducted against him. Only far-reaching concessions in Jerusalem, Olmert apparently thinks, will bring the media and the prosecution to support him and prevent him from being sent to a political desert and prevent an indictment from being served against him. Only in return for them will he receive the benevolence of the media, those journalists and prosecutors who with combined forces helped Ariel Sharon escape from being brought to trial in return for uprooting Gush Katif. When one makes a far-reaching move without broad national agreement and with blatantly cynical motives, the move will explode in the faces of those who choose the path of treachery, just as the Qassam rockets every day explode the treachery of Sharon and those who supported him with unacceptable motives. The support of these people is inconceivably worse than Olmert's attempts to save his soul. Whoever did not learn a lesson from the mistake of supporting Sharon and whoever is hardening his heart this time, too, will bear the responsibility on his conscience for the Qassams that are likely to come, if he continues to support Olmert, to the Tel Aviv region as well. One must arrive at the discussion about core issues, if at all, with the utmost care, without flawed motives and without a weakness of mind and without being intimidated. This is a fateful move to which one cannot go without broad and proven national support. This kind of agreement can only be achieved by a referendum or elections. The uprooting from Gush Katif has left deep scars not only in the psyches of those who were uprooted. Considerable sections of the national religious sector, especially among the youth, have started to feel alienation toward the state, which also finds expression in decreased motivation to serve in the Israel Defense Forces. And if these are the results of the uprooting, it will be easy to imagine what a wrenching will take place if heaven forbid there are concessions in Jerusalem. A responsible prime minister, who does not merely see his own personal and political needs, must act according to these facts. But when the man whom dozens of investigators are currently busy investigating, gallops ahead to concessions in Israel's capital, despite the danger of a schism in the nation, and who in the near past served as its mayor and swore to protect its wholeness, it proves that he cannot lead the nation at times of crisis, as was also seen in Lebanon. Certainly not with regard to issues that are the very core of the people's national, religious and territorial identity. He who lacks the understanding that with core issues, one must act out of great fear and trembling and total and unshaken faith in the justice of the path, may cause a national chasm. Certainly someone who approaches these subjects as Olmert does, with haughtiness and as a means to escape the Winograd Report and interrogations from the police and the State Prosecutor's Office. There is no point to negotiations without the recognition of all the Arabs of Israel and the Palestinians of the fact that the Land of Israel is the national home of the Jewish people and united Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. They must also stop terror of all types, and incitement against Israel and against the Jewish people, in the mosques, the schools and in the Arab media. A compromise about these threshold conditions will distance peace, and certainly will not bring it closer. That is what happened in past rounds of talks when Israel arrived ready to make horrible concessions in advance, and for sure that is what will happen now Bookmark to del.icio.us   Google N for Nakba Israeli town sues Google over claim it was built on ruins of Palestinian village. A Belgian treat U.S. Jew says he was kicked out of a Bruges cafe because he was wearing a skullcap.   1.   Jewish state inherently racist idea 10:22  |  Israeli citizen 17/01/08   2.   Olmert bombed an Arab capitol, expanded Israel, conceded nothing 10:47  |  Natallie Durson 17/01/08   3.   Israeli citizen: devil`s advocate 10:47  |  Star of David 17/01/08   4.   Jewish state means run on Jewish lines 10:48  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 17/01/08   5.   Opinion of another Israeli Arab 10:48  |  Simon 17/01/08   6.   OLMERT LEADING ISRAEL TO MARCH OF FOLLY 10:52  |  G. Marcus 17/01/08   7.   No #1, Original 1947 UN plan was for "Jewish State/Arab State" 11:02  |  Dr. L. Brnd 17/01/08   8.   #1: Jewish state inherently racist idea???? 11:04  |  Joel Stein 17/01/08   9.   The Arabs are not ready for peace. Let them stew a few more years 11:08  |  Denise Thompson 17/01/08   10.   Making an issue of what could be a non-issue 11:11  |  Esther 17/01/08   11.   THEY MOVE FORWARD TO ANOTHER DEMAND 11:28  |  indrajaya 17/01/08   12.   THEY MOVE FORWARD TO ANOTHER DEMAND 11:28  |  indrajaya 17/01/08   13.   Israel Harel 11:28  |  Abraham 17/01/08   14.   No point of talks if 11:38  |  Palestinian 17/01/08   15.   "ISRAELI CITIZEN" missed you & your thousand & one identities 11:45  |  PETER SM 17/01/08   16.   olmerts strategic brain is in a cess pit 11:52  |  v hardman 17/01/08   17.   Natalie Durson 12:02  |  Baruch Hashem 17/01/08   18.   The Red Line 12:17  |  Tzfonit 17/01/08   19.   Any excuse 12:35  |  Ussishkin 17/01/08   20.   Harel 12:49  |  sick of it 17/01/08   21.   You gotta be kidding 13:09  |  pal 17/01/08   22.   INDRAJAYA They Move backward trying to undo what was always there 13:24  |  PETER SM 17/01/08   23.   Nothing new under the sun 13:29  |  A mother 17/01/08   24.   Jewish National Home vs. Jewish State 13:32  |  The Other Alan 17/01/08   25.   STAR of David. A small bet mate.#1 is not what he implies 13:47  |  PETER SM 17/01/08   26.   Ludicrous demands 13:47  |  Murray 17/01/08   27.   Jewish State not racist 13:51  |  Hilda 17/01/08   28.   WHY ISRAEL INSISTS ON JEWISH STATE CONCEPT? 13:52  |  TrippleJump 17/01/08   29.   I accept a Jewish state in Belarus 13:54  |  Raed Kami 17/01/08   30.   I accept a Jewish state in Belarus 13:54  |  Raed Kami 17/01/08   31.   Arab intransigence is the real obstacle to peace 13:54  |  Denise Thompson 17/01/08   32.   land for peace 13:59  |  bernie 17/01/08   33.   to Indrajaya 14:09  |  Hilda 17/01/08   34.   Israel: Democracy OR Jewish state. Theocracy as in Saudi Arabia 14:11  |  samos 17/01/08   35.   to Palestinian who says no point in talks 14:15  |  Hilda 17/01/08   36.   Jewish State = Racist State 14:17  |  POP 17/01/08   37.   Palestinian #14 14:28  |  Hastaroth 17/01/08   38.   Israel Harel: simply stupid, or stupid simpleton 14:51  |  Axel 17/01/08   39.   # 1 Is the "Arab Republic of Egypt" a racist state? 14:54  |  David 17/01/08   40.   Israel wants to become a Saudi Arabia; A Religious State. 14:55  |  POP 17/01/08   41.   Jewish Groups in Canada try limit FREE SPEECH too. Why? 14:57  |  POP 17/01/08   42.   Raed Camel then I accept a Pal state in Jordan 14:59  |  Iz Ray Leigh 17/01/08   43.   Jewish State = Racist State 14:59  |  POP 17/01/08   44.   Stupid samos 14:59  |  Iz Ray Leigh 17/01/08   45.   Kadima - Natallie`s twisted perception 15:01  |  David 17/01/08   46.   Israel - The Jewish State!!! Accept it and Move On 15:02  |  Ariel 17/01/08   47.   Simon 15:10  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 17/01/08   48.   Simon 15:10  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 17/01/08   49.   Kadima - Natallie`s twisted perception 15:15  |  David 17/01/08   50.   #10 Esther you always get it wrong 15:16  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 17/01/08   51.   Who needs recognition of Israel as a Jewish state? 15:18  |  Tosefta 17/01/08   52.   #29 hilarious arab writes from london 15:21  |  v hardman 17/01/08   53.   This site is a must for all http://arabsforisrael.com/whoarewe.ht 15:22  |  Judith, Haifa 17/01/08   54.   Why the religion ? 15:29  |  Anne 17/01/08   55.   Raed Kami (Post No. 29) 15:35  |  Johnny Weintraub 17/01/08   56.   JIHAD or ZIONISM Choose 15:44  |  B 17/01/08   57.   Harel Should Talk to the Rabbis 15:57  |  Yaakov Sullivan 17/01/08   58.   Natalie Durson 16:19  |  Abraham 17/01/08   59.   # 33, HILDA 16:28  |  indrajaya 17/01/08   60.   Israel Harel is right. 16:29  |  Johnny Weintraub 17/01/08   61.   #4 Margie in TA 16:33  |  Boycott 17/01/08   62.   Raed Kami 16:40  |  Hoshhosh 17/01/08   63.   POOP=Loser 16:43  |  Tex 17/01/08   64.   Jewish State = Israel, Arab State = Jordan 16:43  |  David 17/01/08   65.   B: I agree, Zionism & Jihad are equal. 16:44  |  POP 17/01/08   66.   # 30 You do not have to accept-just lump it 16:47  |  Alan B 17/01/08   67.   I Wonder Why You Get Asked Questions, Simon 16:50  |  Tex 17/01/08   68.   Jews are children of Israel 16:52  |  Boris 17/01/08   69.   so-called refugees? so,pals left their homes 17:04  |  bozhidarevski 17/01/08   70.   bravo!! -- once in a (long while) Haaretz makes sense 17:08  |  felix 17/01/08   71.