Prime Minister Ehud Olmert decided
to respond Monday to the criticism directed at him regarding Israel’s restraint policy. During a Kadima faction meeting in the Knesset the prime minister said, “We hope to formulate a diplomatic plan soon. The difference between us and the Right is that they only speak of blood, sweat and tears, but they do not offer a diplomatic plan or course. They have no proposal.”
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Head of IDF Intelligence Brig.-Gen. Yossi Baidatz tells Knesset’s Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee that Syrian president’s recent remarks regarding renewal of peace talks serious, would serve Syria’s interests |
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As to his recent meeting
with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem Olmert said, “We are a party that strives for a diplomatic plan, but such a course is not risk-free. It took three months just to arrange the meeting with Abbas. We had to act until the final moments to make it happen.
“I hope the meeting will pave the way for more; but it does not guarantee an end to the terror and violence,” he added.
Turning his attention to the recent Syrian peace overtures, Olmert said, “I hope we will be able to begin dialogue with Syria, on condition that it ceases to support terror and Hamas. If Syria stops supporting Hamas and Hizbullah and severs all ties with Iran, I have no doubt in my mind that it will be possible to launch negotiations.
“I expect (Syrian President) Bashar Assad not to hide behind bombastic statements,” he added.
Olmert said during the meeting, that "the (2007) budget impressively addresses both security and social issues."
"We are covering all of the war costs," he added.
However, it seems that there are still many obstacles standing in the way of the budget’s approval.
Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson met with Knesset Finance Committee Chairman Yakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism) and asked that the committee's vote on the Agreements Law clauses, which was scheduled for today, be delayed due to the coalition parties’ refusal to withdraw their budgetary demands.
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