"If I believed there was a real chance of reaching a (peace) agreement, I would advise making the effort," Olmert told the Yediot Ahronot daily, "but that is not the situation."
Olmert said Israel has two choices -- either to withdraw to the so-called Green Line, the frontier before the 1967 Middle East war, or an "inclusive unilateral move ... where we define our borders that will in no way be similar to the Green Line."
Sharon and prime ministers before him have said they will not withdraw to the 1967 borders.
The Palestinians and the United States oppose unilateral Israeli moves, saying that a decision on borders should come as a result of a negotiated agreement. The Palestinians want a state in all the areas Israel captured in 1967 -- the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem.
Olmert indicated that Israel would withdraw from some isolated settlements, as well as from some of the Arab neighborhoods in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want for a capital.
"I won't define the border," said Olmert, who served as Jerusalem mayor for 10 years. "I will just say that it will be based on a maximization of the number of Jews and a minimization of the number of Arabs inside the State of Israel."
Concerning Jerusalem, Olmert said Israel would have to retain control over east Jerusalem's Old City, where a key holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews -- known respectively as the Al Aqsa Mosque compound and the Temple Mount -- is located.
Olmert said some Arab neighborhoods close to the downtown area would also stay with Israel, but suggested that outlying Arab neighborhoods could be handed to Palestinian control.
In the area currently under Israel's control, Israel's 1.3 million Arab citizens combined with the 3.5 million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would soon outnumber Israel's 5.2 million Jews because of their higher birthrate.
Palestinian factions were holding talks in Cairo, Egypt, aimed at producing a cease-fire with the Israelis, but Olmert's comments weren't expected to affect those negotiations.
On Thursday, Israel's Deputy Defense Minister Zeev Boim suggested Israel would scale back its military operations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip if the Palestinians pledge to halt attacks.
Go for it
Israel will have to draw its own borders, says deputy prime minister
AP: Israel's vice premier on Friday ruled out any chances of reaching an agreement with the Palestinians and said Israel will have to draw its own borders.Ehud Olmert's comment in a newspaper interview came a week after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said he would take unilateral steps if peace talks with the Palestinians fail.
Olmert, who is considered close to Sharon, said unilateral steps are necessary because Israel is rapidly approaching the point where Arabs will outnumber Jews in areas under Israeli control.
"If I believed there was a real chance of reaching a (peace) agreement, I would advise making the effort," Olmert told the Yediot Ahronot daily, "but that is not the situation."
Olmert said Israel has two choices -- either to withdraw to the so-called Green Line, the frontier before the 1967 Middle East war, or an "inclusive unilateral move ... where we define our borders that will in no way be similar to the Green Line."
Sharon and prime ministers before him have said they will not withdraw to the 1967 borders.
The Palestinians and the United States oppose unilateral Israeli moves, saying that a decision on borders should come as a result of a negotiated agreement. The Palestinians want a state in all the areas Israel captured in 1967 -- the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem.
Olmert indicated that Israel would withdraw from some isolated settlements, as well as from some of the Arab neighborhoods in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want for a capital.
"I won't define the border," said Olmert, who served as Jerusalem mayor for 10 years. "I will just say that it will be based on a maximization of the number of Jews and a minimization of the number of Arabs inside the State of Israel."
Concerning Jerusalem, Olmert said Israel would have to retain control over east Jerusalem's Old City, where a key holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews -- known respectively as the Al Aqsa Mosque compound and the Temple Mount -- is located.
Olmert said some Arab neighborhoods close to the downtown area would also stay with Israel, but suggested that outlying Arab neighborhoods could be handed to Palestinian control.
In the area currently under Israel's control, Israel's 1.3 million Arab citizens combined with the 3.5 million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would soon outnumber Israel's 5.2 million Jews because of their higher birthrate.
Palestinian factions were holding talks in Cairo, Egypt, aimed at producing a cease-fire with the Israelis, but Olmert's comments weren't expected to affect those negotiations.
On Thursday, Israel's Deputy Defense Minister Zeev Boim suggested Israel would scale back its military operations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip if the Palestinians pledge to halt attacks.
Posted by Ted Belman at December 5, 2003 10:16 AM