Channels
The savior?
Photo: AFP

Will Assad save Olmert's hide?

What is the truth behind the latest 'peace with Syria' campaign?

Internal security minister Avi Dichter's statement that Israel would be willing to trade the Golan Heights in exchange for peace with Syria hit the public and the political establishment like a bombshell.

 

Dichter, one of Prime Minister Olmert's closest advisors, made his statements on the heels of Defense Minister Amir Peretz's assertion, before the war ended, that "Israel should examine the Syrian option." 

 

In addition, Haaretz reported the nomination of Yaakov Dayan to be Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's Syrian advisor, and while meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, Vice Premier Shimon Peres called on the Syrians to "stop being shy," and to meet with Israel openly, with no preliminary conditions. "It's the only way we can speak about peace," he said. 

 

While visiting the north, Olmert refused to castigate Dichter, who Olmert considers a close political ally and confidant. There were no attacks on Amir Peretz, Tzipi Livni or Shimon Peres, despite the fact the prime minister seemed to come out against the Syrian initiative:

 

"I have heard voices speaking about our neighbors to the north and the need to speak to them," said Olmert. "Let's remember that a few days ago missiles from that country to our north were killing Israeli civilians. All terror organizations have headquarters in Damascus and enjoy full support from Syria. The kidnappers of Gilad Shalit, too, received their instructions from Damascus. 

 

"Let's not get sucked in by false hopes, or create illusions that tomorrow we'll blink our eyes and all of a sudden they will be negotiating partners."

 

Read between the lines

For those who failed to understand Olmert's falling in line with his senior partner, US President George Bush, Bush loathes the younger Assad's support for Iraqi rebels, as well as his participation in the axis of evil between Tehran and Damascus.

 

As Olmert said: "Israel will not negotiate with anyone supporting terror, or anyone who is part of the axis of evil. Some people feel we should embrace Bashar Assad. Let me say clearly: Let us not forget the thousands of missiles Israel has withstood the past month. Everyone of them passed through Damascus; many of them were actually made in Damascus.

 

"I will negotiate only when Syria undergoes fundamental change with regard to its open support for terrorism," said Olmert, leaving the door open. 

 

Open questions

So what is going on here? Does Olmert want peace talks with Syria or not? Maybe what's going on here is a revolution by officials in the Olmert government who are pushing a "Peace with Syria" campaign, against the wishes of their leader?  

 

Or perhaps the whole thing has been orchestrated from the top? And if it is all just spin, is it intended to portray Olmert as a nationalistic patriot to the right-wing, still furious about the failures of the war? To portray Olmert as a prime minister who refuses to bend to left-wing demands to withdraw from the Golan?  

 

Or maybe it is all meant to be a trial balloon for the prime minister, with the intent of creating a new agenda for Olmert and the Kadima-led government? Maybe we are seeing the creation of a new slogan, a motto that will lead Olmert and his government towards the glowing horizon?

 

Are we seeing the first rays of sunlight on a new day for a prime minister who over the past two months has lost his ability to carry out his realignment plan?  

 

The truth might well be found in the following fact: All those who have gone on record in support of a diplomatic process with Syria are members of the "secret seven," and members of Olmert's National Security Council. All, starting with the prime minister, feel the ground burning beneath their feet and are looking at a commission of inquiry that will investigate the failures of the war. 

 

The commission will not be good for Olmert, say the prime minister's advisors. It is expected to examine the need to go to war, the hesitating way in which the war was conducted, the unclear decisions, the inability to meet expectations and hopes of freeing kidnapped soldiers, and the vision of an embargo and the disarming of Hizbullah and moving the group away from the border. Those were the stated goals of the opening days of the war. 

 

Diverting attention

Olmert et. al do not want a commission of inquiry. Period. They do not want to be asked why Israel failed to win a knock-out victory over a pro-Iran terror group with no more than a few thousand soldiers. They would not be satisfied with Chief of Staff Dan Halutz's assertion that Israel "won on points." 

 

This is what Olmert said in Kiryat Shmona Monday, after sharply criticized by members of the local city council:

 

"I will not be dragged into this game of self- flagellation, or of kicking the IDF. I have decided not to spend all our energies and resources on mutual kicks or on arguing about what happened. I'd rather concentrate on preparing for the future. Let's see what sort of framework we need to examine the negative aspects, but that can also present the positives." 

 

But here are the facts: Amir Peretz and some senior Kadima members are trying to deflect the public's attention away from the war's failures and the demand to establish a commission of inquiry. They are doing this by promoting a "peace with Syria" campaign. 

 

Despite the fact that Olmert knows full well how to impose discipline and shut them up, has not made an attempt to do so. After falling in line with President Bush's position on Syria, he winked and said it was possible, leaving the door open for a Syrian track. 

 

Olmert is well-practiced at walking between the drops, and comes out of the issue looking like a patriotic nationalist and also like someone able to create a new agenda for his government that lost a lot of the credit it enjoyed at the beginning of the war.

 

The Israeli public is involved with a new game, forgets the failures of Olmert and co. and gives them oxygen, until the next spin. There is no question that Labor and Kadima officials alike benefit from the new spin. Only the State of Israel loses. 

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.22.06, 13:56
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment