Israel Update for May 2008

There was further public consternation when Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mualem claimed that PM Olmert had already consented to Syria's precondition that he pledge to carry out a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights as part of any final peace accord. Adding even more fuel to the fire, he insisted the Israeli leader had agreed that such an evacuation would have to be right up to the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, which was not the recognized 1948 international border between Israel and Syria, but includes territory Syrian soldiers captured in skirmishes with IDF forces in the run-up to the Six Day War. It was this outlandish demand-which would give Syria legal access under international law to the lake's fresh water-that caused earlier American-mediated peace talks between Israel and Syria to break down in January 2000.

The besieged PM denied that he had given such a pullout commitment, but many Israeli politicians and analysts said they suspected Olmert was not telling the truth. Opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu, who opinion polls project will return to the premier's chair if new elections are held in the coming months, lashed out at his political rival, saying "Olmert, who is up to his neck in investigations, has no moral or public mandate to conduct fateful negotiations on Israel's future." He added that if Syrian government claims are true that the PM has already agreed to a pullback up to the Sea of Galilee shoreline, "it would be an unprecedented diplomatic and security abandonment." Likud party officials added that they would not feel obligated to honor any peace accord signed by Olmert if Netanyahu returns to power.

Turkish media reports said that diplomatic delegations from both Syria and Israel had actually been staying in the same hotel in Ankara, the Turkish capital. However they said the negotiators never formally met, but exchanged written messages via their Turkish hosts. The next round of indirect talks is scheduled to be held in early June in Istanbul.

Some Israeli analysts said the main reason Olmert may have begun peace talks now with Syria is to help ensure that the Assad regime does not actively join any military attack upon Israel if Iran's nuclear program is struck by either Washington or Jerusalem in the coming months, as many anticipate. Meanwhile the White House denied an Israel Army Radio report that Bush has already decided to order a military assault before he leaves office next January. However security sources noted the US President gave out strong signals while visiting here that he is indeed planning such a strike, telling the Knesset in a stirring speech for instance that America would never allow Israel to be destroyed by hostile regional countries.

Musical Chairs

Israeli media reports in late May quoted police sources saying evidence was overwhelming that PM Olmert had illegally pocketed copious amounts of money given to his office by American Jewish Orthodox financier Morris Talansky over the past decade. They added that the New York millionaire had began his cash flow in order to shore up Jewish control over eastern Jerusalem, which Olmert-then mayor of Judaism holiest city on earth-had pledged he would always protect. Talansky reportedly decided to testify against the Premier after it became clear Olmert was ready to hand over parts of the city to Palestinian control as part of the final peace accord requested by President Bush in the coming months.

Political analysts said Olmert would probably appoint Vice Premier Haim Ramon to replace him if he is forced to step down, as many expect by the end of summer. That would be followed by a struggle to pick a new Kadima party leader, with polls showing the race would be close between Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz. Defense Minister Ehud Barak predicted new elections will be held by the end of this year.

Whoever emerges as Israel's next government leader, it is the King of Kings who holds the troubled country's fate in His unshakable hands. It is extremely good to ponder that ultimate truth as the winds of war blow strong amid fallacious promises of peace. "Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).