Olmert lijkt president Abbas oprecht te willen versterken door middel van concessies. Tegen advies van leger- en veiligheidsfuncionarissen in heeft hij besloten om een aantal checkpoints op te heffen. Ook heeft Israël toegezegd al het geld dat voor de Palestijnen aan belastigen is geïnd, en ingehouden sinds de Hamas regering aantrad, te zullen overdragen aan de PA. Olmert heeft zich verder uitgesproken voor de vrijlating van 250 Fatah gevangenen. Probleem bij dit laatste is dat zij geen bloed aan hun handen mogen hebben, maar ook niet slechts voor kleine vergrijpen vastzitten. Men is de lijst van gevangenen momenteel aan het bestuderen.
Uiteraard stelt dit alles niks voor in de ogen van Israëls critici, en is slechts bedoeld om een wit voetje te halen bij de VS, de EU de VN of om de Palestijnen een rad voor ogen te draaien. Maar voor Israël is er een reëel veiligheidsrisico, en voor de slachtoffers van aanslagen is het moeilijk te verteren als de daders 'zomaar' - zonder iets in ruil - worden vrijgelaten. Het ligt ook niet lekker dat Shalit nog steeds gevangen wordt gehouden, al is dat niet Abbas' schuld.
Abbas heeft concessies van Israël nodig zodat de bevolking ziet dat zijn gematigder benadering werkt, maar Olmert heeft ook Palestijnse concessies nodig zodat de bevolking ziet dat Abbas een betrouwbare partner is die risico's waard is.
Ratna
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PM says will remove roadblocks in West Bank, release 250 prisoners
By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent
By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent
Last update - 15:15 02/07/2007
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/877376.html
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday that Israel intends to remove roadblocks between Palestinian towns in order to grant Palestinians "limited freedom of movement."
"The political clout we will gain is worth the increased risk," Olmert said during a briefing with the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
The prime minister also said that he intends to release 250 prisoners in order to convey to the Palestinian people that "when they fight Hamas and accept the Quartet's conditions, they will receive something in exchange."
He emphasized that he was referring only to prisoners without "blood on their hands," who have not been involved in violent acts against Israelis.
Olmert noted that he had promised not to release prisoners if Hamas took part in the Palestinian Authority, but that things had changed since PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas dismissed Hamas and formed an emergency government after the Islamic group seized control of the Gaza Strip last month.
"The minute that Abu Mazen resumes contacts with Hamas, Israel will cut off contacts with him," Olmert said, referring to Abbas.
However, he said, "I don't want to delude anyone into thinking there won't be attempted attacks from Judea and Samaria," using the Biblical name for the West Bank.
"There are terrorists there. We will fight them and they will attempt to carry out terror attacks," he added.
Olmert told the committee that United States President George Bush is determined to sign a ten-year agreement with Israel, which "will substantially increase foreign aid to Israel, as we requested."
He said that the intention to increase aid reflects the understanding demonstrated by the Americans regarding the increased threat to Israel and the need for Israel to equip itself against this threat.
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/877376.html
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday that Israel intends to remove roadblocks between Palestinian towns in order to grant Palestinians "limited freedom of movement."
"The political clout we will gain is worth the increased risk," Olmert said during a briefing with the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
The prime minister also said that he intends to release 250 prisoners in order to convey to the Palestinian people that "when they fight Hamas and accept the Quartet's conditions, they will receive something in exchange."
He emphasized that he was referring only to prisoners without "blood on their hands," who have not been involved in violent acts against Israelis.
Olmert noted that he had promised not to release prisoners if Hamas took part in the Palestinian Authority, but that things had changed since PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas dismissed Hamas and formed an emergency government after the Islamic group seized control of the Gaza Strip last month.
"The minute that Abu Mazen resumes contacts with Hamas, Israel will cut off contacts with him," Olmert said, referring to Abbas.
However, he said, "I don't want to delude anyone into thinking there won't be attempted attacks from Judea and Samaria," using the Biblical name for the West Bank.
"There are terrorists there. We will fight them and they will attempt to carry out terror attacks," he added.
Olmert told the committee that United States President George Bush is determined to sign a ten-year agreement with Israel, which "will substantially increase foreign aid to Israel, as we requested."
He said that the intention to increase aid reflects the understanding demonstrated by the Americans regarding the increased threat to Israel and the need for Israel to equip itself against this threat.
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