Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., February 26, 2008 Adar1 20, 5768 | | Israel Time: 09:08 (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

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his wife Aliza arriving in Tokyo on Monday. (GPO) Last update - 03:08 26/02/2008 Olmert aides: Demonstration in Gaza 'much ado about nothing' By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Hamas, Ehud Olmert  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's airplane was winging toward Japan late Sunday night when Hamas said it would stage a mass demonstration against the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip. Some defense establishment officials predicted horrific scenarios with tens of thousands of Palestinians breaking through the border to Israel. While Olmert was between earth and sky, Acting Prime Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided to beef up the troops on the border. They also issued a threatening message to Hamas that Israel would react harshly to any attempt to breach the fence. The media headlines warned of taking the struggle up another notch in Gaza. An hour and a half before landing in Tokyo's Haneda Airport, Olmert marched toward the most important person on the plane at that moment - the man holding the satellite telephone. "I'm going to hear about the game between Beitar and Maccabi Netanya," he told the reporters, who wondered what the hurry was. Advertisement Olmert sat on a seat at the end of the plane and started asking questions. He already knew the results (2:0 to Beitar) but wanted to hear details. "I heard Gal Alberman scored a great goal," he told the reporters. "Sir, what about the warnings that a Palestinian mass could breach the border in the Gaza Strip," asked Channel 2 reporter Udi Segal. "I know of no such warnings," Olmert replied curtly, reluctant to answer questions. A few minutes later he pulled himself together and added, "we must remember that in the Middle East every scenario is possible, and therefore we must prepare accordingly." Only after landing did Olmert, his advisers and the reporters realize what a commotion had taken place in Israel while they were in the air. At first the entourage grumbled about Livni and Barak's "hasty" statement, which had been issued without consulting Olmert. Then, realizing that this would spark another spat in the media, they changed their tone. "Hamas announced its intentions after we had taken off and Livni and Barak thought it wasn't sufficiently dramatic to bother the prime minister on his flight, and that's okay," an Olmert aide said. "They did what they had to do," he said. "Their statement was blown up by the media although it was quite moderate." Olmert's people were all business-as-usual. Military secretary Meir Kalifi was briefed from Israel, but the morning was devoted to a tour of Tokyo and the atmosphere was amazingly pastoral. In the early evening, after it transpired that the Gazans had stayed home, Olmert's people announced that altogether it had been "much ado about nothing." Olmert knew that more people came to Teddy Stadium to see Alberman score than participated in the demonstration in Gaza. Related articles: Olmert heads to Japan with eye to boosting trade Gaza protest of Israeli blockade yields disappointing turnout Haaretz.com TV: Israel braces for mass protest on border with Gaza ANALYSIS: Mass Gaza march puts Hamas in a win-win situation Bookmark to del.icio.us   Personalized workout Boutique gyms is the next big thing - for those who can pay. No to non-violence 'Human chain' against the blockade on gaza yields disappointing turnout.   1.   Replace ?peace? with strength and determination. 08:14  |  Jean Van Daem 26/02/08

Today Online Gaza protest of Israeli siege yields disappointing turnout Responses: 382 Bradley Burston: Palestine's doomsday weapon - non-violence - fails its test Responses: 151 Canadian Jew loses bid to have 'Jerusalem, Israel' in passport Responses: 94 Obama`s top adviser: Israel and Arabs must negotiate own peace Responses: 111 Akiva Eldar: AIPAC does not even bother to rally for two-state solution Responses: 53 Rosner's Domain "Reasonable people can agree or disagree on meeting Ahmadinejad" Clinton allies say: Obama bad for Israel (WTR) Iran Could Have Enough Uranium for a Bomb by Year's End (WTR) Poll: Is it time for Israel to end the blockade in Gaza? McCain, a supporter of Israel with a 'Judeophile' brother More Headlines 09:07 High Court approves Katsav sex crimes plea bargain 07:55 Iran ordered to pay $33 million to murdered Israeli diplomat's family 07:39 ANALYSIS: In the end blood was shed in Sderot, not Gaza 02:13 Report: Widow of slain Hezbollah terrorist blames Syria for killing 06:46 Store manager fined for employing Jewish workers on Shabbat 07:26 Israeli diplomat postpones meeting after Costa Rica recognizes Palestinian state 06:22 Iran UN envoy: Exiled group feeding U.S. lies on weapons plan 03:08 Olmert aides: Demonstration in Gaza 'much ado about nothing' 01:39 Will Obama be supportive of an Israel controlled by a Likud government? 06:06 Australian soccer player to be disciplined for dressing as Hitler 08:35 Vets mend sea turtle's limb in first operation of its kind in Israel Previous Editions Select Day 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb

Special Offers Advertisement Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations 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 |

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