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Abbas and Olmert

Likud officials accuse Olmert of advancing PA's interests

Following contentious meeting between former prime minister and Palestinian president, many government ministers issue statements strongly condemning the event, and branding Israeli politician Abbas’s 'loyal spokesman.'

A barrage of negative feedback was thrown Ehud Olmert’s way on Saturday following the former prime minister’s meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Paris, with one senior Likud official branding Olmert “a loyal spokesman” of the Palestinian leader.

 

 

"Olmert, who once offered Abbas the Western Wall, is now also his loyal spokesman,” the official vented.

 

During the meeting in the French capital, the former prime minister praised Abbas’s commitment to the two-state solution, adding that the Palestinian Authority (PA) leader “earned my respect.”

 

Olmert and Abbas
Olmert and Abbas

 

"The United States and many Arab countries have already realized that Abbas is the real obstacle to peace," the Likud official continued, before adding that “his extreme demands will not lead to peace but to the destruction of the State of Israel," he concluded.

 

Many other Likud party members followed suit in condemning the former prime minister for holding discussions with Abbas.

 

Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan also criticized Olmert, accusing him of advancing interests of the Palestinians.

 

"It is sad to see a former prime minister act in the interests of the Palestinians … which causes damage to Israeli reputation in the international arena,” the minister bemoaned.

 

Gilad Erdan (Photo: Avi Moalem)
Gilad Erdan (Photo: Avi Moalem)

 

“After President Trump and his representatives understood that Mahmoud Abbas is someone who incites and promotes boycott initiatives against Israel, Olmert—who is detached from reality, decides to stand by the side of this instigator," Erdan stressed.

 

Minister of Communications Ayoob Kara also labeled the PA leader an instigator.

 

"Olmert's meeting with Mahmoud Abbas teaches us a lot about both of them. One is a failed former prime ministers who ended up in prison, and whose proposals were repeatedly rejected by the so-called peace partner,” Kara explained.

 

“The other one is known around the world as a refuser of peace, who continues to pay salaries to murderers and encourages terror. They truly found each other,” he concluded.

 

Minister of Science Ofir Akunis said he believes the former prime minister is living in the past.

 

"Olmert still lives in the previous decade. After Abbas humiliated Olmert … he is now spreading lies against the elected Israeli government. Abbas is the one who refuses to return to the negotiating table and he is the one who ran away during talks in 2011—which have not been renewed ever since,” Akunis elaborated.

 

Deputy Minister Michael Oren went as far as to suggest Olmert should face legal action following the contentious meeting.

 

"Ehud Olmert's meeting with Mahmoud Abbas would have been considered a federal crime in the United States, and the former prime minister would have been sentenced to ten years in prison. This is a flagrant violation of democracy," Oren raged.

 

Former Minister Gideon Sa'ar also addressed the topic, issuing a statement via his official Twitter account.

 

Gideon Sa'ar (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
Gideon Sa'ar (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

 

"Ehud Olmert, like Ehud Barak before him, continues to negotiate with Abbas even after his resignation. Olmert offered Abbas even more far-reaching concessions than Barak offered to Arafat. Both of them failed for the same reason: the PA leadership is not interested in ending the conflict with Israel,” he wrote on the social network.

 

During the meeting Abbas told Olmert he was never officially opposed to the peace initiative presented to him.

 

After the meeting concluded, Olmert said in a statement to the Palestinian media that "US and Europe, and certainly Israel must understand there is no substitute to the two-state solution and Abbas is the only person who can make it a reality.”

 

"The Palestinians understand that Abbas is committed to the two-state solution and it is important Israel understands this as well. Abbas is fighting against terror as part of his obligation to achieve peace," Olmert went on to say.

 

"I consider Abbas my friend … I believe, as he does, that achieving peace is possible,” he concluded.

 

According to Abbas, if Olmert would have remained in power for a few more months, a peace agreement would have been signed between Israel and the Palestinians.

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.22.18, 22:48
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