Game of his life
With Annapolis summit looming, PM Olmert says he is aware of the price of peace
Olmert is playing the game of his life these days. The investigations he’s facing seemingly don’t bother him. He also doesn’t seem to care too much about the state comptroller or the Winograd Commission. If we believe the prime minister, the big game, the real one, is the possibility of peace with the Palestinians. And here, Team Palestine’s star player is Mahmoud Abbas.
Those who were around the prime minister this week report that Olmert believes Abbas and believes in him. True, the Palestinian leader is weak vis-à-vis Hamas and terrorism, for the time being. Yet if he has a state to show for his efforts, Olmert thinks, he will deliver the goods. In Olmert’s view, Abbas is the partner.
“I think he really wants peace, like me,” Olmert said this week in a closed-door forum. “He wants peace, I have no doubt. There are problems. But he wants it.”
And what about you, Olmert? “I too want to bring peace. I’m determined to continue. The investigations won’t hinder this, and we’ll also overcome the problem of (coalition partners) Yishai and Lieberman.” Speaking of Lieberman, Olmert noted in the same forum that “I think he presented a platform that includes territorial withdrawal. Is there anyone in the country who thinks we can reach peace without having to give up territory? I said we’ll have to give up territory even before the elections, and I haven’t changed my mind.”
Sleeping in Washington, talking in Annapolis
On Saturday night, November 24th, the prime minister’s entourage is expected to depart to the United States. The delegation will stay at a Washington hotel, and on Monday will make its way to the naval academy in Annapolis, Maryland, for three days of talking peace. At this time it appears that no less than 36 countries will be represented there, possibly including Syria, and of course the UN secretary general and European Union leaders.On the first day already, on the eve of the conference, Olmert and Abbas are expected to have dinner together with their host at the White House. They will meet again in Annapolis. The delegations themselves, headed by Tzipi Livni, Ahmed Qureia, and Condoleezza Rice, will meet separately. The delegation will go back to sleep in Washington every night. On Wednesday, November 28th, the joint declaration will apparently be made before many hundreds of journalists and government members in Annapolis.
The declarations’ content has not yet been finalized, but here are several statements expected to be included in the leaders’ speeches: “Two states for two peoples, co-existing in peace and security”; “It is agreed that the core issues – borders, Jerusalem, and the right of return of refugees – will be discussed in intensive negotiations between the sides immediately after the conference”; “negotiations will be premised on the Road Map”; “there is no intention to set timetables for implementation”; “upon reaching the implementation stage, both sides will go back to fulfilling their obligations based on phase one of the Road Map” (the Israelis will evacuate outposts, and the Palestinians will fight terror.)
At the end of the conference, the prime minister is expected to stay in Washington for a few more days. After all, following the Annapolis hurdle there will be quite a few matters he has to clear up with the US Administration – ranging from sanctions against Iran to American aid to Israel and bilateral issues. After that, Olmert will leave the top of the world and return to the Jerusalem swamp – and also to the surgical treatment of the prostate cancer discovered in his body.
