Israeli Prime Minister Olmert went to Washington to represent the State of Israel, but no one benefited more from his visit than the Palestinians. No one will suffer more than the Israelis. No wonder he has a 3% approval rating.
“Olmert: Israel to agree to ‘more far-reaching’ checkpoint removal in West Bank,” by Aluf Benn and Shmuel Rosner for Haaretz:
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Tuesday in Washington that the cabinet would on Sunday approve the release of tax revenues collected by Israel on the behalf of the Palestinian Authority.
Speaking after a series of meetings in the White House, including a two-hour session alone with President George W. Bush, Olmert added that the new Palestinian government should be given assistance and a chance to succeed.
“The new Palestinian government deserves a chance, and also assistance,” he said.
More chances and more money. This bankrupt policy has been a disaster since the days of Oslo and Madrid. Time after time, Abbas has proven himself to be nothing more than a corrupt politician and an enabler of terror. Another chance?
Olmert said that Israel would also agree to a “more far-reaching” removal of checkpoints in order to increase Palestinian freedom of movement inside the West Bank.
The dramatic drop in terror attacks originating from the West Bank is in no small part due to checkpoints and an Israeli presence on the ground, which Israel no longer has in Gaza. The removal of checkpoints will only ease the movement of jihad terrorists and the transport of weapons. It will not jumpstart the Palestinian economy. Abbas’ corrupt government has long taken care of that problem.
Measures will also be taken to bolster the forces loyal to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, he added.
The same forces that include the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, which continues to plan and execute terror attacks against civilians — both Israeli and Palestinian. The same forces that proved themselves totally ineffective against Hamas. The same forces that have proven that, despite all the American weapons and the crack training of Lt. General Dayton, they are just as effective against Hamas as the French were against the Germans.
Referring to the Gaza Strip, Olmert said: “We will provide all that is necessary to meet humanitarian needs and we will not be indifferent. This suffering has been caused by Palestinians against their own people.”
Correct. And that’s why we shouldn’t be involved at all. Remember the disengagement? It’s their problem now. Egypt has withdrawn their consul. Fatah has cut off all talks. Only Israel, the present and future target of Hamas, continues to play Mother Teresa.
Regarding the plight of refugees waiting at the Erez crossing, Olmert said that anyone whom security checks prove is not a terrorist will be allowed to pass through.
Perfect. Export the Gaza problem to the West Bank. This allows Palestinians currently on the other side of the security fence to enter the West Bank. This is a virtual ticket to Israel. Olmert is destroying the same security fence that has saved so many lives. Even Egypt is smart enough to have closed its borders to the Palestinians.
Olmert has once again shown his willingness to sacrifice the safety and security of Israeli citizens for the sake of his political survival. Over the past 15 years, Israeli politicians have waved the peace (surrender) flag any time a distraction was needed to avert political pressure. In light of the Winograd Report, Ehud Barak’s sudden rise to power in the Labor Party and the PM’s own abysmal approval rating, no one needs a distraction more than Olmert.
There is absolutely no way to rationalize giving more concessions to Fatah. Fatah is no less a terrorist organization than Hamas. The goals are the same. Only the approach differs. To support Fatah is to support terror. To support Fatah is to support the jihadist destruction of Israel.
Crossposted from The American Israeli Patriot.