Barak and Livni disagree with Olmert, want quick end to Gaza fighting
Sources close to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert confirmed Sunday that he continues to disagree with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni regarding the question of continuing the warfare in Gaza. The so-called troika met last evening to discuss the subject, and both Barak and Livni reportedly argued for ending Operation Cast Lead as soon as possible. This is apparently the reason Olmert wants to present the issue to the security cabinet, where the majority supports his view.
Livni contends that continuing the offensive could harm the deterrence it has achieved so far and damage Israel diplomatically. Barak objects mainly to inserting ground troops deep into densely populated areas of Gaza. For his part, Olmert told the full cabinet Sunday that stopping Operation Cast Lead now would be a missed opportunity.
Sources close to Olmert said Sunday, after the meeting of the three, that most of the security cabinet supports Olmert’s stand or even believe the operation should be expanded. Olmert is likely to convene the security cabinet today to seek approval for an expansion of the operation.
Olmert’s associates also said no one in the security cabinet supported Livni’s position and that a few Labor ministers support Barak’s position that an agreement should be reached with Hamas.
Olmert told the full cabinet Sunday: “The pressure we are exerting [on Hamas] must not be reduced. Anyone who broadcasts weakness will earn the good will of the global community for 12 seconds, but will not change anything essential.”
Sources in the Prime Minister’s bureau said Egypt has begun to relax its stance on bringing in American and European engineering experts to deal with the tunnels in the Rafah area.
I agree with both sides on this issue. If we don’t go all the way and get rid of Hamas they will continue to attack Israel during the Obama administration. Although I am not impressed by Olmert’s history of bad decision making, I would side with him on the KILL THEM ALL campaign. I would also agree with Livni and Barak. As soon as Obama swears in, that’s all folks.
At least we all had a nice stand on the battlefield before the anti-Christ network took over again.
If we don’t stand together against Hamas and Iran - it’s over for the world community. But I agree that Olmert needs to protect our Israeli soldiers from harm’s way as a first priority because if the God of Israel doesn’t favor Olmert, he cannot succeed and has to be replaced by a better leader who is Faithful to God.
Comment by Michael Sunstar — January 12, 2009 @ 4:18 am
Its kind of ironic that its Ehud Olmert who wants to win this war. There’s an answer for that: he wants to be remembered as the man who saved Israel from Hamas instead of being remembered as a disgraced, ineffectual and corrupt politician. He’s able to conduct the war with a degree of freedom from pressure few leaders have for he never has to face Israel’s voters again. All he has to face is the judgment of history.
Comment by NormanF — January 12, 2009 @ 5:10 am
This is certainly true. For once Olmert has it right.
Comment by Laura — January 12, 2009 @ 4:52 pm
The implied assumption is that the report by al-Ha’aretz is correct, rather than another piece of leftist disinformation to demoralize the people and support the enemy. I have learnt from past experience to to believe al Ha’aretz as much as I believe the New Duranty Times, and both as much as I would have believed Der Stuermer.
Comment by Joseph Norland — January 12, 2009 @ 7:30 pm