In a speech covertly directed at his chief political rival, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert pledged he would press on with the recently renewed negotiations with Syria so long as he remained in office – a
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surreptitious dig at Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni and her criticism of the talks.
Speaking at the National Defense College graduation ceremony in Jerusalem on Tuesday evening, Olmert said Israel "is continuing with the negotiations in good faith, with the intent of giving Syria a genuine alternative, so that it may make the right decision.
"The peace negotiations depend on Syria. There is no place solely for overtures, but there must also be action. Syria must decide between Iran, the axis of evil and international isolation or peace and prosperity," he said.
Olmert added that he has supported and worked towards advancing peace talks from his very first day in office, and vowed he would continue to do so for as long as he remained prime minister.
"Even with the complexities of our reality, political processes must move forward. From day one I believed negotiations must be the top priority, and so long as I head the country – this will not change," said the prime minister.
He also addressed the recent prisoner exchange deal with Hizbullah. "A fortnight ago, when we brought home the coffins of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, we bore witness to Israel's inner strength, where it differs from its enemies.
"Those who needed any additional testament to what sets us apart as a nation – could find it in the glee with which the murderer of a little girl was welcomed in a neighboring country. Here, this would not happen."
On Monday Olmert accused an unnamed "political rival" of circumventing the formal negotiations with Syria and contacting Syrian President Bashar Assad behind his back. When asked to comment on the allegation, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who is currently in Washington, said he found it hard to fathom that anyone "would stick their nose into the Syrian issue, but you have to ask Olmert who he meant."
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