Mr. Olmert emerged from Monday’s dinner meeting with Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice with a smile on his face, calling his first high-level Washington meeting a positive one. Also taking part in the meeting was US National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley.
Aides to the prime minister concurred, telling the media the two discussed Mr. Olmert’s Convergence (expulsion) plan, as well as the Iranian nuclear crisis and the situation in the Palestinian Authority (PA) vis-?-vis the newly-elected Hamas administration. Olmert aides responding to media questions stated, he came “to listen and not to be heard.”
On Tuesday, the prime minister will be meeting with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and then with the president. A large anti-retreat rally is scheduled to take place in Washington while the two leaders are meeting. A black umbrella protest will be held at the same time in Jerusalem, opposite the United States Consulate on Agron Street.
Mr. Olmert is aware that his Convergence Plan will not be the focus of discussion, with the US leader more interested in addressing the situation in Gaza. Bush administration officials during recent days have released statements of concern regarding the possible collapse of the PA in Gaza, and the president is expected to call upon Israel to work towards preventing such a situation.
The Iranian nuclear crisis is also on the agenda, and Bush is expected to release another statement to the media promising to defend Israel against a non-conventional missile attack from Tehran.
Regarding the Convergence Plan, Olmert settlement advisor Uri Keren is quoted by the Jerusalem Post as saying the plan calls for the removal of some 20-30 communities throughout Judea and Samaria, not the majority of communities as has been reported in the media. According to the Post report based on an interview prior to Olmert’s departure for Washington, some communities will find themselves on the PA side of the partition fence, with Keren stating reports that some 70,000 settlers will be displaced are “exaggerated.”
Timing his statement ahead of the Olmert-Bush meeting, Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah is quoted by the daily Ha’aretz as saying if Israel withdraws to the pre-June 1967 lines, thereby relinquishing sovereignty over eastern Jerusalem and other areas, then the PA is willing to commit to a hudna cease-fire for a number of years. This contradicts recent statements by Haniyah, in which he exclaimed that even if Israel retreats to the pre-’67 boundaries, Hamas will continue its struggle, adding the Hamas administration will never recognize Israel’s legitimate right to exist.
While America and the European Union are continuing their economic boycott on the PA, Mr. Bush is expected to call upon Israel to make additional “humanitarian gestures” as the PA continues to release messages to the international community that humanitarian conditions in Gaza are dire, and immediate aid is required. Olmert recently released a statement denying there is a “humanitarian crisis” in Gaza, stating the situation is difficult but the PA is not taking steps towards disarming terrorists. This has resulted in the repeated closure of the Karni commercial crossing, resulting in a blockade of good into Gaza.
Olmert this week has released a number of statements calling upon his senior ministers to take steps towards relieving the situation in Gaza, which included a Sunday cabinet decision to transfer NIS 50 million in humanitarian aid to the PA.
Aides to the prime minister concurred, telling the media the two discussed Mr. Olmert’s Convergence (expulsion) plan, as well as the Iranian nuclear crisis and the situation in the Palestinian Authority (PA) vis-?-vis the newly-elected Hamas administration. Olmert aides responding to media questions stated, he came “to listen and not to be heard.”
On Tuesday, the prime minister will be meeting with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and then with the president. A large anti-retreat rally is scheduled to take place in Washington while the two leaders are meeting. A black umbrella protest will be held at the same time in Jerusalem, opposite the United States Consulate on Agron Street.
Mr. Olmert is aware that his Convergence Plan will not be the focus of discussion, with the US leader more interested in addressing the situation in Gaza. Bush administration officials during recent days have released statements of concern regarding the possible collapse of the PA in Gaza, and the president is expected to call upon Israel to work towards preventing such a situation.
The Iranian nuclear crisis is also on the agenda, and Bush is expected to release another statement to the media promising to defend Israel against a non-conventional missile attack from Tehran.
Regarding the Convergence Plan, Olmert settlement advisor Uri Keren is quoted by the Jerusalem Post as saying the plan calls for the removal of some 20-30 communities throughout Judea and Samaria, not the majority of communities as has been reported in the media. According to the Post report based on an interview prior to Olmert’s departure for Washington, some communities will find themselves on the PA side of the partition fence, with Keren stating reports that some 70,000 settlers will be displaced are “exaggerated.”
Timing his statement ahead of the Olmert-Bush meeting, Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah is quoted by the daily Ha’aretz as saying if Israel withdraws to the pre-June 1967 lines, thereby relinquishing sovereignty over eastern Jerusalem and other areas, then the PA is willing to commit to a hudna cease-fire for a number of years. This contradicts recent statements by Haniyah, in which he exclaimed that even if Israel retreats to the pre-’67 boundaries, Hamas will continue its struggle, adding the Hamas administration will never recognize Israel’s legitimate right to exist.
While America and the European Union are continuing their economic boycott on the PA, Mr. Bush is expected to call upon Israel to make additional “humanitarian gestures” as the PA continues to release messages to the international community that humanitarian conditions in Gaza are dire, and immediate aid is required. Olmert recently released a statement denying there is a “humanitarian crisis” in Gaza, stating the situation is difficult but the PA is not taking steps towards disarming terrorists. This has resulted in the repeated closure of the Karni commercial crossing, resulting in a blockade of good into Gaza.
Olmert this week has released a number of statements calling upon his senior ministers to take steps towards relieving the situation in Gaza, which included a Sunday cabinet decision to transfer NIS 50 million in humanitarian aid to the PA.