Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Olmert: Bush won't change stance on Syria, Iran
Prime minister asks cabinet members to refrain from making public statements regarding Baker-Hamilton report, says 'it's an internal American affair.' However, Olmert stresses, 'I don't believe President Bush will change his stance on Syria and Iran'
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the cabinet Sunday he believes that United States President George W. Bush will not change his stance regarding Syria
and Iran,
despite the recommendations of the Baker-Hamilton report
on Iraq, which was submitted last week.
The cabinet was briefed on the ceasefire in Gaza and the current situation in Lebanon by Shin Bet Head Yuval Diskin.
Olmert stated that he is content with Bush's position on the Baker-Hamilton report after the latter made clear that he will not change his standing regarding unconditioned direct talks with Syria and Iran.
Sunday's cabinet meeting (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
Olmert added that the matter is an internal US affair, asking ministers to refrain from commenting on the report as it is a sensitive subject. "We've heard the President's position on the matter very clearly and we have no need to add to it."
During the meeting, Interior Minister Ronnie Bar-On responded to statements made by Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh during his visit to Arab countries by saying these statements were made to serve Haniyeh's own political needs.
Bar-On also said that the price of playing with fire should be clear to the Hamas government, and that they should be able to reach the right conclusions. He continued to say that if the Hamas government cannot reach the right conclusions, "Israel will help them."
Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon referred to Haniyeh's statements Sunday morning and said that "Iran stands behind Hizbullah as well, but we are maintaining the ceasefire in Lebanon."
"We must distinguish between statements and the way in which we respond to them. I'm sure that Haniyeh's statements will be met with a response," Simhon said, adding that, "Politically speaking, it's best if Israel stays out of what goes on in the Authority."
"We need to allow them to function independently, so that it doesn't appear as if we are taking sides, a thing which may yield the opposite result," he stated.
