Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., April 13, 2008 Nisan 8, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:53 (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

Last update - 02:15 11/04/2008 PM to IDF commanders: Think of Palestinian suffering at roadblocks By Yossi Verter Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has called on IDF commanders in the West Bank to understand that the roadblocks are causing suffering to the Palestinians, whose needs should be appreciated to avoid a worsening of relations between the two peoples. Olmert made these comments during a closed-door meeting with brigade commanders of Central Command. Advertisement "Take all the Palestinians who were stripped at the roadblocks, only because there was concern that some of them were terrorists. Take all those who stand at the roadblocks where there is concern that a car bomb will pass through," Olmert said. "This can become a boiling pot that can explode and cause terrible burns, and it can also be something else, which only depends on your understanding and abilities to conduct yourselves with wisdom and determination." Olmert also told the officers that "sooner or later" Israel would have to operate in the Gaza Strip. "But this will not be done without connection with the international scene. We need our friends throughout the world, and our reliance on them is of existential significance to the State of Israel," he said. Olmert's standing in the eyes of the public has improved, according to a Haaretz-Dialog survey carried out on Wednesday. Even though there has been no improvement in the public's satisfaction with the prime minister's performance, holding steady since February with a 23 percent approval rating, the number of those "dissatisfied" with Olmert has dropped from 65 to 60 percent. This reflects a slow but steady trend of improvement in his standing since the Second Lebanon War. Defense Minister Ehud Barak's approval rating dropped slightly since the February survey. Barak received a 37 percent approval rating this week, compared with 47 percent who were dissatisfied. But most people say they feel more secure and that Israel is better prepared for total war, compared with the situation two years ago on the eve of the outbreak of the Second Lebanon War. The most significant change reflected in Wednesday's poll is that Likud lost nearly 20 percent support since February, lowering its potential Knesset mandates to 29 from 35 in the previous survey. Barak, also leader of the Labor Party, expressed frustration that the kind of political cooperation he expected with Prime Minister Olmert has still not happened. "Instead of dealing with [opposition leader Benjamin] Netanyahu, Olmert and I are drawn into political rivalries," Barak told close associates, referring to the tensions between Labor and Kadima. Bookmark to del.icio.us   'No good Jewish men' Author David Seidman delves into the dark side of dating, and confesses: 'I am a bad Jew.' Remembrance trail Holocaust memorial steam-drawn train sparks bitter row in Berlin.

Read & React IDF kills eight, including two boys, in Gaza clashes Responses: 217 Olmert tells IDF commanders: Think of Palestinian suffering at roadblocks Responses: 171 Rice criticizes Carter over planned meeting with Meshal Responses: 208 Turkey seeks to block Knesset debate on Armenian genocide Responses: 98 IDF checkpoint coordinator blames Palestinians for Gaza fuel crisis Responses: 43 More Headlines 23:56 Hamas official threatens to target Israeli ministers 01:23 Livni heads for Qatar to promote normalized ties with Arab states 01:11 IDF checkpoint coordinator blames Palestinians for Gaza fuel crisis 23:10 Construction of 30,000 homes planned in new W. Bank suburbs 13:09 Rice criticizes Carter over planned meeting with Meshal 14:45 U.K. advertising watchdog nixes 'misleading' Israel tourist ad 01:52 PM seeks 5,000 more Palestinian work permits, despite economic advice 15:49 'There really are no good Jewish men out there' 17:00 Ukraine arrests Transport Min. DG for not having entrance visa 15:02 One killed, several wounded in Tel Aviv area violence 18:03 Police arrest Hadera woman for allegedly threatening to kill son 09:52 Anniversary of Lebanese civil war blighted by ongoing crisis 22:54 Police arrest Nazareth man, 17, suspected of attempted rape Previous Editions Select Day 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy 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 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