Israeli PM Offers Palestinians Sovereign State
Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has offered to recognize an "independent and viable Palestinian state with full sovereignty and defined borders" in exchange for a new Palestinian government, the recognition of Israel, a renewed commitment to the "road map" and the release of a captured Israeli soldier What, no free landings?.
Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has offered to recognize an “independent and viable Palestinian state … with full sovereignty and defined borders” in exchange for a new Palestinian government, the recognition of Israel, a renewed commitment to the “road map” and the release of a captured Israeli soldier.
As part of the deal, Israel would withdraw from the West Bank, relax movement restrictions and release Palestinian prisoners.
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“When Gilad Schalit is released and returned to his family, safe and sound, the Government of Israel will be willing to release numerous Palestinian prisoners — including ones who were sentenced to lengthy prison terms,” Mr. Olmert said.
The Prime Minister infuriated right-wing critics by offering to reduce roadblocks, evacuate “many territories” in the West Bank and look forward to an “independent and viable Palestinian state … with full sovereignty and defined borders.”
The key to a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian dialogue is talks in Cairo between Hamas’ supreme leader, Khaled Mashaal, and Egyptian mediators. They are trying to broker a deal that would secure the release of Corporal Schalit in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and lead to the formation of a Palestinian national unity government.
In Israel, right-wingers criticised Mr. Olmert’s overtures. Yuval Steinitz, a Likud MP, said: “The Prime Minister is offering hills and mountains … to a Hamas Government and parliament which breached all agreements and ceasefires.”
However, Mohammed Eid Shubair, the academic widely tipped to take over from the Hamas leader Ismail Haniya as prime minister, confirmed that a government led by him would allow President Abbas to negotiate with Israel.
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The Israel prime minister has been accused of accepting gifts from wealthy allies, trading influence for favorable press coverage and more.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not be where he is today without the corruption charges that toppled the government of his predecessor, Ehud Olmert, in 2009. Although Olmert (above) is not quite out of the woods, he was cleared of two major allegations Tuesday.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is being tried on charges of corruption that allegedly occurred while he was Jerusalem's mayor and later a Cabinet member. Olmert maintains his innocence, claiming a three-year smear campaign forced him to resign as prime minister a year ago.
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