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Last update - 02:21 22/05/2008 ANALYSIS: What will come first, peace treaty or indictment? By Yossi Verter, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, Ehud Olmert, Syria  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert left his office in the Knesset on Wednesday holding a thick portfolio of documents. Walking down a long and deserted corridor he came across MK Amir Peretz, and two reporters. He smiled widely because of his friend Peretz, not because of the journalists. "I told them I was in favor of the Syrian track, and that sometimes what starts out as a trial balloon or rumors could end up the real thing," Peretz told Olmert. "Well, it started during your time," Olmert said to Peretz, referring to his term as defense minister. Advertisement Olmert was asked how he was dealing with the claim that the talks were a spin to deflect interest from the investigation against him. The prime minister appeared to welcome the question. "First of all, the report came not only from my bureau but also from Damascus and Ankara. I don't suppose that Assad and Erdogan are sitting talking on the phone to Mazuz and Danino," he said, referring to Israel's attorney general and police investigations and intelligence chief. "Second, the meeting in Damascus, excuse me, in Ankara, was set a month ago, before we heard about this Talansky-Shmalansky," Olmert added. It does not matter what Olmert does in the months he has left in office, whether he brings peace, finds oil, blows up the Iranian reactor, or takes out Nasrallah - everything will be considered a spin. That is his fate. He is the immediate, main suspect. That is how he has been conducting himself and teetering along for two years, from the Second Lebanon War to the State Comptroller, from police probes to the two Winograd reports. The facts, in the Syrian case, speak in his favor: talks began in February 2007, the meeting in Ankara was set up a month ago, and the Syrians wanted to release a joint statement as much as he did. But it is difficult not to wonder: Is it only a coincidence that the breakthrough came about Wednesday, the day the embarrassing and incriminating details came out about Olmert and the money, two days before his second interrogation by police, and a few days before Talansky's testimony? For example, were Olmert's emissaries Yoram Turbowicz and Shalom Turjeman - known as "TNT" - sent to Istanbul with clear instructions to soften Israeli positions? In any case, if it is spin it is very successful. It will be taught in spin classes. It will be a candidate for a Nobel Prize in spin. Only a bomb that heavy could push details of the investigations against Olmert out of the headlines. Olmert's adversaries were waiting impatiently for the gag order to be lifted. "We will not let him pull us into the diplomatic arena," a Likud lawmaker said. "We will chase him with the envelopes, we will treat him like any criminal, as if the jailhouse is right around the corner." Spokespeople on the right, but also senior figures in Olmert's Kadima party, downplayed the talks. No one believes that Olmert will be able to get a peace agreement with the Syrians to pass in the Knesset in his present situation. "Talks, shmalks," they called it Wednesday in the Knesset. After all, he cannot even get MK Eli Aflalo's ministerial appointment approved, or Avishay Braverman made chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee. Everyone knows that Olmert wants to end his term on a diplomatic note, not a criminal one. The question is, what will come first  an indictment or a peace treaty? Related articles: Golan regional head: Olmert endangering Israel's existence Rosner's Domain / Is Syria-Israel peace on the horizon? I think not Bookmark to del.icio.us   Say what you want French court: Claim that Al-Dura tape doctored isn`t libelous. Peace in our time Olmert: Peace talks with Syria are a 'national duty'.   1.   Olmert is developing... 02:33  |  Analyst 22/05/08   2.   Well, now that Olmert is a known criminal, too... 02:39  |  Analyst 22/05/08   3.   What will come first ? The Surrender Has already Been Approved 03:33  |  Joseph . E 22/05/08   4.   Nither 04:28  |  Mark Lincoln 22/05/08   5.   Olmert says he`s "happy!" 04:51  |  Doctor Lynch 22/05/08   6.   What will come first, peace treaty or indictment ? 07:15  |  martin list, m.d. 22/05/08   7.   Olmert Cannot Be Allowed To Make Any Peace DeAL With Syria 07:30  |  Shepherd 22/05/08   8.   "Talansky/Shmalansky"....... Olmert says he is happy..... 08:03  |  Dagma 22/05/08   9.   THEY DIDN`T BELIEVE HITLER. 08:07  |  Dolly 22/05/08   10.   #4 Mark Lincoln - The facts belie your claim 08:25  |  Yonatan 22/05/08   11.   Olmert and Peretz...........!!! 08:37  |  Natasha 22/05/08   12.   Herod The Great Was a United States Roman Ally 08:47  |  Joseph . E 22/05/08   13.   Olmert Please Retire 08:58  |  Steve 22/05/08   14.   Support from that Other Genius. Peretz (Yikes!) 09:40  |  Tod Zuckerman 22/05/08   15.   Don`t be silly, Haaretz 10:17  |  Clickfool 22/05/08   16.   The Golan Heights 10:24  |  Josephus 22/05/08   17.   Treaties must be ratified 10:26  |  Danny 22/05/08   18.   To Yonatan # 10 - A Cat with Nine Lives.... 11:20  |  Onlooker 22/05/08   19.   Golan 23 Years Syrian and 41 years in Israeli hands 11:47  |  Dagma 22/05/08   20.   Naive Headline of the Year Award 12:50  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 22/05/08   21.   Please cancel my last talkback 12:54  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 22/05/08   22.   Irony; Israel bombs reactor site and there is a peace track..Iran 14:14  |  r 22/05/08   23.   The more u wait for peace, the more ur hallicination about iran i 14:24  |  Aounist 22/05/08   24.   If Olmert really wants peace with Syria, he ought to resign now 14:27  |  ARA 22/05/08

Read & React Olmert to Haaretz: Syria contacts are 'historic breakthrough' Responses: 55 Editorial: Spin or no spin, Olmert must continue Syria talks Responses: 31 Poll: More Israelis against returning Golan than dividing Jerusalem Responses: 52 Shmuel Rosner: Will Bush attack Iran or won't he? Responses: 20 Suicide bomber blows up truck at Gaza crossing Responses: 49 Rosner's Domain 8 short comments on the Israel-Syria peace talks 5 questions: Does Israel need rescue? Goldberg vs. Boot. I'm going to stay neutral! Rosner's Guests: Israel not likely to invade Gaza soon Can Obama win over Jewish voters? (WTR) More Headlines 12:57 Is an attack on Iran a big risk? 14:28 Olmert: Both Syria and Israel know what's needed for peace 12:59 Suicide bomber blows up truck at Erez crossing on Gaza border 14:14 Border Police officers kill man who infiltrated from Egypt 13:24 Sources: Not enough evidence to indict Olmert for bribery 14:21 Israeli elephant expert dies in Ethiopia blast 11:02 Israeli tourist strips in anger at New Zealand men's whistles 12:51 Report: Israel releases Syrian suspected of aiding Hezbollah 14:18 U.S. agency, Palestinian firm sign deal to boost Palestinian exports 09:30 Gag order lifted on contents of Shula Zaken's date book 12:35 Ramle man indicted for killing grandmother, aunt and uncle 11:49 Sderot mother arrested on suspicion of breaking her infant's arms 11:14 Rice: Israeli-Palestinian track most likely to produce results Previous Editions Select Day 21 may 20 may 19 may 18 may 16 may 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may

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