Olmert outlines plan for Israel
Israel's incoming Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, whose government is due to be sworn in later on Thursday, has put his programme to parliament for approval.
Mr Olmert is preparing to occupy
Ariel Sharon's chair for the first time
May 4, 2006
BBC News
The Kadima head told MPs that Israel's future borders would be very different from the land it currently controls.
His plan involves withdrawal from some parts of the occupied West Bank, with or without a deal with Palestinians.
The Palestinian leader has called for fresh peace talks, but Israel has cut links after Hamas' election victory.
Mr Olmert spoke after the Knesset session chose Dalia Itzik, as its first woman speaker.
"Negotiations with the Palestinian Authority is the desired basis to lead us to a peace agreement," he said.
But a Palestinian government led by a terror organisation will not be partner for negotiations," he added, referring to the militant Hamas group which won the Palestinian parliamentary election in January.
He called the continued presence of isolated Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which is home to some 2m Palestinians, a "threat to the existence of the state of Israel as a Jewish state".
Israel would therefore create "desirable" borders, drawn unilaterally, while keeping the main settlement blocs "forever an inseparable part of the state of Israel".
"The borders of Israel that will be formed in the coming years, will be significantly different than the territories under Israel's control today," Mr Olmert said
Israel occupied the West Bank during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Its settlements in the territory are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.
'Bleak view'
After weeks of talks the prime minister-designate has a narrow majority, with the support of just 67 members of the 120-seat Knesset.
Mr Olmert was made acting prime minister after Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke on 4 January. His centrist Kadima party came out on top in a 28 March election, but without a parliamentary majority.
After being sworn in, ministers will take their seats at the Knesset's cabinet table, and Mr Olmert will occupy the prime minister's chair for the first time since Mr Sharon was incapacitated.
Speaking as opposition leader, Binyamin Netanyahu said the Kadima programme would only strengthen Palestinian militancy.
"There has never been a government that has given up so much ahead of time and relieves the other side of its obligations," the Likud party head said.
For their part, Palestinians take a very bleak view of the implications of Mr Olmert's policies, according to the BBC's Alan Johnston, in Gaza.
Although the new Hamas-controlled government refuses to recognise the state of Israel, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas continually appeals for a resumption of peace talks.
But the overwhelming view among Palestinians is that Mr Olmert is not interested in talking, our correspondent adds.
Mr Olmert is preparing to occupy
Ariel Sharon's chair for the first time
May 4, 2006
BBC News
The Kadima head told MPs that Israel's future borders would be very different from the land it currently controls.
His plan involves withdrawal from some parts of the occupied West Bank, with or without a deal with Palestinians.
The Palestinian leader has called for fresh peace talks, but Israel has cut links after Hamas' election victory.
Mr Olmert spoke after the Knesset session chose Dalia Itzik, as its first woman speaker.
"Negotiations with the Palestinian Authority is the desired basis to lead us to a peace agreement," he said.
But a Palestinian government led by a terror organisation will not be partner for negotiations," he added, referring to the militant Hamas group which won the Palestinian parliamentary election in January.
He called the continued presence of isolated Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which is home to some 2m Palestinians, a "threat to the existence of the state of Israel as a Jewish state".
Israel would therefore create "desirable" borders, drawn unilaterally, while keeping the main settlement blocs "forever an inseparable part of the state of Israel".
"The borders of Israel that will be formed in the coming years, will be significantly different than the territories under Israel's control today," Mr Olmert said
Israel occupied the West Bank during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Its settlements in the territory are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.
'Bleak view'
After weeks of talks the prime minister-designate has a narrow majority, with the support of just 67 members of the 120-seat Knesset.
Mr Olmert was made acting prime minister after Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke on 4 January. His centrist Kadima party came out on top in a 28 March election, but without a parliamentary majority.
There has never been a government that has given up so much ahead of time
Opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu
After being sworn in, ministers will take their seats at the Knesset's cabinet table, and Mr Olmert will occupy the prime minister's chair for the first time since Mr Sharon was incapacitated.
Speaking as opposition leader, Binyamin Netanyahu said the Kadima programme would only strengthen Palestinian militancy.
"There has never been a government that has given up so much ahead of time and relieves the other side of its obligations," the Likud party head said.
For their part, Palestinians take a very bleak view of the implications of Mr Olmert's policies, according to the BBC's Alan Johnston, in Gaza.
Although the new Hamas-controlled government refuses to recognise the state of Israel, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas continually appeals for a resumption of peace talks.
But the overwhelming view among Palestinians is that Mr Olmert is not interested in talking, our correspondent adds.
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 5:17 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home