Olmert. Not having fun
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Berlusconi. Cleared entirely
Photo: AFP
Barghouti. Will be more extreme
Photo: AFP
Grant. The real dilemma
Photo: AP
Olmert says Blair, Berlusconi give him hope
In interview with The Times, prime minister sounds relaxed and optimistic in regards to new police probe launched against him: 'I look at the manner in which my friends were in a similar situation. One was accused of trading contributions for titles and one for trying to bribe a judge. They were cleared entirely and didn’t stop taking care of the State'
As he faces another police questioning
on Friday, following a court petition
and an MRI,
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
found the time for a relaxed interview with The Times'
correspondent in Israel,
certain he will make it through this complicated situation he has gotten himself into.
“I look at the manner in which my friends (former British Prime Minister) Tony Blair and (Italian Premier) Silvio Berlusconi were in a similar situation. They were accused in similar ways, one of trading contributions for titles and one for trying to bribe a judge. They were cleared entirely and didn’t stop taking care of the State,” he said.
In the interview, Olmert appeared to draw comfort from global precedents.
Another Day in Court
Prime minister's attorneys file motion in order to study State's material before police deposes key witness in new investigation. State Prosecutor's Office expected to agree to short delay in timetable
“You know when you get into this job that you’re not going to have fun,” he added. “You’re going to have tough months and difficult years.”
He had only good things to say about his former British counterpart Blair, who now serves as the Quartet envoy to the Middle East.
“He really invested himself in this effort to try and build up an infrastructure for the Palestinians,” Olmert said. “I don’t know how rapidly the Palestinians will be prepared to meet this challenge. But I think that his general approach is positive.”
The prime minister went on to praise US President George W. Bush, recalling how the latter cycled around his house “like an excited child” last week when he gave him a custom-made mountain bike during Israel’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
Olmert insisted he would stay focused on the peace talks conducted behind closed doors with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has threatened to step down in six months if no progress is made.
“I prefer not to think about it in these terms. I hope he will not step down and I hope that in six months we will be in a different place altogether,” he said. “I still think that the basic distance between what I and (Abbas) exchanged at the very initial stage was bridgeable.”
Comparing notes with Chelsea manager
The prime minister puts little hope in Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, who is jailed in Israel and who many believe is the only man who could head a moderate and more charismatic Palestinian leadership.“Imagine that Barghouti is released tomorrow. Is there a way for him to prove that he’s not a collaborator with the Israelis? There’s only one way: to be more extreme than the present leadership,” he said.
Olmert concluded the interview by noting that he plans to relax by watching Manchester United play Chelsea in the Champions League final. As a man obsessed with sports, the prime minister can always call on his friend Avram Grant, Chelsea's Israeli manager, to blow off steam.
“I speak to him quite often; I’m very impressed by his coolness and his ability to face the pressure that comes with the job. We compare notes sometimes: how it is to deal with these issues, as prime minister; how it is to deal with the pressure when a head coach (has) 50,000 fans who are expressing their opinion momentarily, without waiting, just as it happens, and you are just by yourself.”
