Olmert. Will he continue talks?
Photo: Gil Yohanan
MKs says Olmert has no mandate for peace talks with Syria
Right-wing politicians infuriated by prime minister's plan to resume unofficial negotiations with Damascus in coming months, saying he has 'no moral authority' to do so. Sources close to Kadima Chairwoman Livni say move has not been coordinated with her
Right-wing Knesset members appealed to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz on Friday morning, asking him to look into outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's
plan to resume Israel's unofficial talks with Syria
while serving as the head of a caretaker government.
A recent meeting between Olmert and Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul revealed that the Israeli prime minister expressed his willingness to hold another round of talks with Damascus.
Sources close to Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni also expressed their discontent, saying the move had not been coordinated with her.
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In the negotiations, Israel plans to inquire whether Syria plans to quit the axis of evil. The Syrians, in turn, seek to discuss the borders issue, according to a six-point document presented to the Turks. If both sides arrive with positive answers, direct negotiations may be the next step.
Officials at the Prime Minister's Office clarified Friday morning that Olmert's only plan is to reinforce the diplomatic process he launched with the Syrians, and not to create irreversible decisions in the four months left until the Knesset elections.
Nonetheless, sources in Foreign Minister Livni's office were surprised by the reports on a fifth round of talks with Syria.
According to the Kadima chairwoman's associates, she had made it clear several times in public statements that an interim government must not lead extensive diplomatic moves like the talks with Syria.
"Moreover," said an aide to Livni, "in our meeting with the Turkish defense minister yesterday we expressed our concern over the ongoing arms smuggling to Hizbullah through Syria, and demanded that this be stopped.
"In any event, the prime minister has yet to brief the foreign minister on the negotiations he seeks to resume with Syria."
At this stage, a date for the fifth round of talks in Ankara has yet to be set by the Turkish mediators.
'Livni's silence' slammed
Likud Knesset members have turned to the attorney general's office, asking him to examine whether Olmert may launch such a move as head of an interim government.
MK Gilad Erdan said, "Olmert does not have the moral or legal authority to make any commitments on behalf of the State of Israel. Tzipi Livni's silence in regards to Olmert's activity shows her willingness to give up the Golan Heights. As usual, she keeps quiet and fails to firmly insist that this move is immoral."
His fellow party members, MK Yuval Steinitz, said that "Olmert's conduct in regards to the negotiations with Syria is harming the principles of democracy and the State of Israel's most vital interests.
According to Steinitz, Olmert and Livni are disregarding the attorney general's instructions in terms of a caretaker government.
Shas Chairman Eli Yishai also criticized the prime minister's plan, saying that "talks must not be held with Syria as long as it is part of the axis of evil".
In spite of Olmert's plans, the interim government is limited in its actions, as clarified recently by the attorney general. In a letter sent to all ministers following the prime minister's resignation, Mazuz clarified that the ministers are part of an interim government and are therefore requested to act with restraint and not make decisions on unusual issues without consulting with him.
"Given the temporary nature of an interim government that lacks the confidence of the Knesset, the government and the ministers in such an interim government must demonstrate restraint regarding decision-making on non-routine issues requiring immediate attention during this interim period," he wrote.
Amnon Meranda and Aviad Glickman contributed to this report
