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Olmert with Livni – Unimpressed
Photo: Alex Kolomoisky
Netanyahu – Respected
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Barak – Worst off
Photo: Gil Yohanan

Olmert prefers Netanyahu

PM despises Barak, unimpressed with Livni, has some respect for Bibi

For part 1 - click here

 

What true makes Olmert lose his composure are moves that he perceives as populism on the part of his rivals. He goes crazy when he sees Netanyahu pledging not to negotiate Jerusalem’s future, or when he hears Ehud Barak – the man he truly despises these days – resorting to vague declarations instead of backing the prime minister en route to peace.

 

Olmert is not overly excited by Tzpi Livni either and does not think much of her courage or leadership. If he needs to pick among the three, Olmert prefers Bibi – at least he understands something about management, the prime minister believes, as opposed to Barak and Livni, who don’t understand a thing.

 

However, all of the above does not prevent Olmert from treating his Kadima successor like a gentleman. He has done so to such extent that Livni grabbed a hold of him one day and asked to understand the root of the conflict between them. Why did it happen to us? she wondered.

 

Livni was touched by the fact that he did not interfere in her primaries race and did not attempt to hinder her. He delivered on every promise he made. Olmert smiled. Despite the unsettled score between the two going back to the Second Lebanon War and the Winograd Commission, he continued to work closely with her. He promised to keep her involved, and he did.

 

During the Knesset’s opening session last week, while President Peres delivered his endless speech, the two of them chatted. Olmert whispered in Livni’s ear at length. The two appeared to be amused, almost close; but no more than almost.

 

In all matters pertaining to Labor Party Chairman Ehud Barak, the prime minister is much less of a gentleman. If there is someone out there he cannot stand, and we mean really cannot stand, that would be Ehud Barak. And Olmert does not hide it. He does not like holding grudges, yet he cannot forgive Barak.

 

He cannot forgive Barak for ousting him, for stabbing him in the back on the diplomatic and political front, or for the words he uttered about him. Olmert thinks that Barak lost it; that he lost his vitality and courage. He may have been a brave commando, yet this does not make him a brave man when it comes to the realm of diplomatic and political leadership.

 

And besides, Olmert wonders to himself, who decided that Barak is such a genius? Who said he is so analytical and sophisticated as is being claimed? After hours of discussions and lectures about security, did anyone even understand what Barak was trying to say?

 

However, Olmert is relatively optimistic in respect to the future. In his view, Israel is a true empire, both in the security arena, where the country has the abilities of a superpower, and in the economic realm. Mostly, Olmert is satisfied with the Israeli economy’s stability in the face of the global crisis. He is proud of the moves led by the government in recent years under his leadership. He is also convinced that he shall proceed to do great things in the months he has left his office. Time will tell.

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.03.08, 01:25
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