Olmert: We'll change borders
Photo: AFP
Olmert: Borders to be modified
Prime minister says new government aims to guarantees solid Jewish majority and defensible borders; scope of mission is unprecedented, Olmert says, but adds overwhelming majority of Israelis back his plan
The new government will be changing Israel's "patterns of existence" in order to guarantee a solid Jewish majority and defensible borders, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said at a ceremony marking his move to the Prime Minister's Office Sunday.
Until now, Olmert refrained from entering the PM's Office even though he replaced the ailing Ariel Sharon at the country's helm several months ago, following the former prime minister's stroke.
"If we could ensure that Ariel Sharon would be here, I would wait without any problems as much time as was required before entering this building," Olmert said. "However, Arik is not here and our prayers and longing are with him."
Hundreds of employees working at the PM's Office welcomed Olmert as he entered it for the first time.
'Mission is unprecedented'
Turning his attention to the new government's future plans, Olmert said "we'll act with great fortitude and without stopping, even if we need to address immense obstacles."
"We won't give up, so we can fulfill the commitments we made to the Israel public and the State of Israel," he said.
"I have no doubt the scope of this mission is unprecedented and I know the overwhelming majority of the Israeli public will identify with our task," the prime minister said.
"In the coming years we'll be changing the State of Israel's patterns of existence in order to safeguard it as a country with a solid Jewish majority and borders we can defend, which can provide Israel's residents with security and will separate us from those who should be living alongside us and not within us," he said.
"This will be the main mission, and we'll spare no effort," Olmert said. "I believe we can realize this mission."
