"There is no option of sitting and doing nothing," Olmert was quoted as telling The Jerusalem Post today. "Israel's interest requires a disengagement on a wider scale than what will happen as part of the current disengagement plan." He said that this will need to happen whether or not a viable peace partner emerges on the PA side.

Olmert was the first government minister to allude to the current disengagement/withdrawal/expulsion plan, just over a year ago. Two weeks later, Sharon came out publicly with the transfer plan he called "disengagement." Currently in the legislation process in the Knesset, the plan calls for the demolition of 25 Jewish communities in Gush Katif and northern Shomron, the transfer of their residents, and the abandonment of the land to the Arabs.

This time, however, Sharon's Bureau negated Olmert's position. The Bureau released a statement saying there will be no further disengagements, that there is no such plan, and that the only peace program Israel will be a party to will be the Road Map drawn up by the Bush Administration.

Analyst Dr. Aaron Lerner of Independent Media Review and Analysis (IMRA) writes that the "Israel cannot stand still" policy is liable to lead Israel to retreat, in stages, from parts of Jerusalem and all of Judea and Samaria even before final-status negotiations begin. When these talks finally begin, Lerner notes, "the world will demand to know, 'What are you offering for peace?'"

Deputy Public Security Minister Yaakov Edry provided a glimpse into what might be expected within the Likud in response to what seems to be another trial-balloon by Olmert. "I support the [current] disengagement plan because of my assumption that this would be a one-time thing, and not a regular ritual," Edry told Arutz-7 today. He said that if the new Olmert plan appears to be a serious proposal, he will demand a Likud Knesset faction meeting on the issue this coming Monday.

Deputy Minister Edry said that if it turns out that Sharon supports Olmert's idea, it would cause him [Edry] and his other Likud colleagues to reconsider their support for the current disengagement.

Minister Olmert did not provide details on a second disengagement, but said it could be a "useful solution to a future impasse in negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. "

He implied, in fact, that PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), who is expected to win the election ten days from now for the PA chairmanship, might not become a workable peace partner. Olmert noted that though Abu Mazen has called for a halt to terrorism, he continues to retain hard-line stances on the major issues in dispute, namely, final borders, Jerusalem and the "right of return."

"We could very well have negotiations [with Abbas] and these negotiations will break down, but Israel will continue to progress, by carrying out unilateral moves, including the possibility of further withdrawals that are in the interest of the state," Olmert told The Post. He added that if no agreement could be reached with the PA, unilateral moves would give Israel "greater freedom" and are "more comfortable" as far as the country's interests are concerned.