Olmert. No compromises
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Olmert: No investigation committee
In cabinet meeting, Acting PM dismisses possibility of an inquiry committee into Amona incidents, says fully endorses security forces' conduct in outpost's evacuation. Public campaign against police, army infected with political agendas, he says
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday he fully backs the conduct of soldiers and policemen in the evacuation of the Amona outpost last week.
Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Olmert said "there will be no national inquiry committee, and I will not allow such a proposal to even be discussed. These ideas are infected with political agendas."
The acting PM spoke after government members were presented with the details of the Amona evacuation by defense establishment officials.
Olmert further stressed there have been no deals or compromises regarding the evacuations of Amona or the Hebron marketplace.
Referring to Amona's evacuation, Olmert claimed the operation did not stem from government policy, but rather from the need to enforce the law according to the High Court's ruling. He also stated the settlers themselves were unwilling to strike a deal before the evacuation began.
Mofaz: Settlers crossed red line
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, who also spoke of the evacuation, said he believes the settlers have crossed a red line in their behavior at Amona, in their attempt to prove the evacuation will not go down as it did in Gush Katif.
"It is essential to support the security forces that took part in the operation, and to focus on locating and apprehending the offenders," Mofaz added.
Remarking on public criticism aimed at the police and the army for their conduct during the evacuation, Olmert said these bodies should not be used for settling political scores.
"This public campaign against the security forces is unbearable and unacceptable," he said.
Dialogue needed
Olmert also stated it was important to create dialogue between the settlers, especially the younger generation, and the state of Israel. "There is no doubt the settlers' spiritual and political leadership is responsible for the recent incidents, but this does not excuse the government from engaging in talks with them," he said.
Meanwhile, Justice and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said that "under the current circumstances there is no need for another government approval for the removal of more outposts."
"The removal of illegal outposts can be carried out according to a defense establishment plan, and in the framework of authorization that was already granted by the acting PM," Livni stated at a Cabinet meeting.
Livni also pointed to the fact that transferring funds to illegal outposts is prohibited according to the attorney general's instructions.
Olmert also spoke of the recent Qassam attacks on Israel over the weekend, and said the country "will in no way be able to accept this. Anyone involved with firing rockets at Israel will be a target for security forces."
Olmert also said he gave specific instructions to the defense establishment on the matter. "We shall act without any restrictions and implement all means at our disposal to prevent and thwart rocket launching at Israel."
