'Arik would act in the exact same manner.' Olmert
Photo: Haim Tzach
Haniyeh (left) and Abbas
Photo: AP
'Someone should apologize .' Bibi Netanyahu
Photo: AFP
Olmert: Abbas failed in war on terror
In exclusive interview with Ynet, acting prime minister says ‘I cannot base my attitude toward PA on sympathy for a certain individual. Abbas failed in the biggest challenge he faced – the war on terror; Hamas rose to a very influential position as a result. Adds that should exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal return to territories he will be detained, tried. Olmert on upcoming elections: I hope Kadima will win at least 40 seats; anything under 36 would disappoint me
Exclusive interview: Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in an interview with Ynet that he estimates his Kadima party will win 36-40 Knesset seats in the upcoming elections, adding that any figure below 36 would be disappointing.
The latest polls show Kadima is losing ground; does this worry you?
Of course this does not please me, but I have always said, ‘there is no need to get hysterical.’ There is no doubt that in almost every scenario Kadima will be the largest faction in Knesset, and I hope it will be large enough for us to comfortably form a coalition. We must not find ourselves in the same situation that has prevented governments from seeing their terms through – and that is not receiving sufficient support that allows the government not to be extorted and eventually defeated by some small faction over insignificant issues.
I believe we (Kadima) are in the 36-40 mandates range, and I hope we will win at least 40 seats… of course anything under 36 would disappoint me.
Due to the recent allegations regarding appointments made under you in the Small Business Authority, some have said that you may not be a worthy successor to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Have you heard any complaints against me on theses issues in the past four years? No. Why? Because I was not a candidate. People are not stupid and realize this is part of the elections campaign and the smear campaign; they are skeptical (regarding the allegations).
Permanent Borders
Acting prime minister tells Jerusalem Post within next four years he intends to ‘get to Israel's permanent borders, whereby we will completely separate from majority of Palestinian population’; vows to resume construction in area between capital, Ma’aleh Adumim
You have received a fair share of mudslinging in this campaign, and your family members were also targeted; are you offended by this?
It doesn’t make me happy…unlike other candidates, I have never used my family to advance my career. My wife is constantly approached by the media for an interview, but she never does it, and neither do my children. What do they expect to gain by saying that my two sons emigrated from Israel. Should I begin to make comparisons as to who left the country? Who lived many years abroad? Who obtained foreign citizenship? Who changed his Hebrew name into a foreign one?
'Do we have to assassinate every enemy?' Olmert during interview (Photo: Haim Tzach)
Are you saying Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu is behind the mudslinging?
I don’t want to name names; I’m just saying – it doesn’t smell good.
Why do you refuse to participate in a debate with Netanyahu and Labor Chairman Amir Peretz?
Look, there is no real debate culture in Israel. If we would have a tradition similar to the political culture in England or the U.S., where the debate does not become personal, then I would consider it. We have all been given a fair opportunity to present our positions to the public.
Your critics say that your plan to determine Israel’s eastern border is a deviation from Sharon’s principles – he never said he intends to carry out a second disengagement.
It’s true that Sharon said there would not be another disengagement similar to the first one, but we must not forget that he made this statement before Hamas’ rise to power, when there was safe to assume that a Palestinian Authority led by Mahmoud Abbas – an Authority that is committed to the agreements and is not involved in terror- may be a partner for negotiations and an agreement. I made my statement after Hamas rose to power and the hope of holding substantial negotiations dashed.
I suppose that if Arik were active today – he would act in the exact same manner. When I speak of “gathering” (inside permanent borders), the unilateral issue is insignificant. In lieu of negotiations, first of all I want to reach via domestic dialogue a position that represents the Israeli consensus regarding the country’s permanent borders. Then I said I would negotiate with the U.S. and the international community with the objective of convincing them of the logic behind such a move. If it will be conducted in such a manner –it is not unilateralism but a coordinated process.
Meaning a Palestinian state could be established…
Within the same borders we will set after we decide to evacuate, with internal agreement and international support – without relinquishing the military options we will have in all of the West Bank to protect ourselves from terror.
Can you promise them a state with territorial continuation?
I can promise this, without giving up on the settlement blocks, but only if they accept the basic conditions set by the international community as they appear in the Road Map for peace initiative; any government that recognizes this will be legitimate.
With your permission, let’s play a game of intuition. What do you think about the following people: Benjamin Netanyahu
Who else?
Amir Peretz
Who else?
Avigdor Lieberman
Who else?
You disregard all three of them?
I didn’t say that. I am in an elections campaign against them now; why should I make personal declarations through the media? They are all legitimate leaders that head their parties – and I hope they do not succeed.
So let’s talk of those who are not part of the campaign. What about Abbas?
I know him and we were very friendly, but I cannot base my attitude toward the PA on the sympathy I may have for a certain individual. Abbas failed in the biggest challenge he faced from the get go – the war on terror. As a result of his government’s failure Hamas rose to a very influential position.
Hamas leader in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh.
He is an enemy-according to his own definition. He does not recognize Israel or the agreements signed with us; he also does not recognize Israel’s right to exist.
Is he a target?
No. Do we have to assassinate every enemy? What reason do I have to kill him if he is not involved in terror? To the best of my knowledge there is no evidence that points to this.
Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal. He wants to return to the territories.
I hope he returns to the territories; that’s where he’ll stay… he will be detained and tried for all that he was involved in.
Do you hold any responsibility for the poverty in Israel? You were a minister in the previous government.
Someone should apologize (alluding to former Finance Minister Netanyahu) for what he has done and for what he hasn’t. I fought the former finance minister’s plans. I presented an alternate budget; at the time I did not have the power to alter the finance ministry’s policy; now I do.
What is your take on the bird flu situation? Some are criticizing the government’s functioning.
I have instructed the Foreign and Defense ministries to be in touch with the Palestinians and offer them assistance – including medicine and equipment. I have also turned to the U.N. and other international bodies such as the World Bank. I cannot send people to Gaza, but it seems that the matter is not being dealt with there.
As to the situation here, the government ministries are dealing with the matter; it’s being handled very well.
Are you eating chicken these days?
Definitely – I eat any chicken that is tested and bought in stores.
Guy Benyovits contributed to the report
