In a Newsweek-Washington Post interview ahead of his trip, Prime Minister Olmert said, "I am ready to release many, many prisoners. I made it clear long ago that I am anxious to open up a new dialogue with [Palestinian Authority President] Abu Mazen, and for that purpose, I'm ready to release many prisoners."
However, Olmert went on to say that the current ruling power in the PA, the Hamas terrorist organization, is preventing the release of the prisoners, "because they refuse to let us have our soldier [kidnapped IDF Corporal. Gilad Shalit]...." According to the prime minister, the Hamas "is not really interested in the well-being of its prisoners. They want to topple Abu Mazen at any cost."
In his interview, Prime Minister Olmert said of Abu Mazen, "He personally has shown consistently his opposition to terror and his discomfort with Hamas techniques. But it is incumbent upon him to do more than just say how uncomfortable he is with Hamas. He hasn't yet shown enough determination and inner strength to put down this government of terrorists...."
Echoing the assessment that the PA president, and leader of the Fatah terrorist organization, represents a moderate, peace-oriented leadership, Foreign Minister Tzippy Livni was quoted Saturday night as saying that a current Israeli goal is to strengthen Abu Mazen, "in order to make it possible for him to communicate the message to the moderates among the Palestinians that there is another way."
Aside from the potential for negotiations with a differently constituted PA government, the US president and Prime Minister Olmert are expected to discuss the current situation in Gaza, the Iranian nuclear threat, and the implementation of the UN-brokered ceasefire in Lebanon. Also expected to be on the agenda is Israel's bombing of Beit Hanoun in Gaza, which apparently led to the deaths of at least 18 Arabs, including women and children. On Saturday, the US vetoed a proposed UN Security Council resolution that would have condemned Israel for the Gaza bombing and established a UN fact-finding team, as well as creating "an international mechanism" tasked with "protection of the civilian populations."
During the first days of his US trip, Prime Minister Olmert will meet with US President George W. Bush, Vice-President Richard Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, leading congressmen from the Republican and Democratic parties, as well as several Jewish congressmen. Olmert is due to return to Israel on Thursday, following an address he is to deliver at the annual convention of American Jewish organizations in Los Angeles.
However, Olmert went on to say that the current ruling power in the PA, the Hamas terrorist organization, is preventing the release of the prisoners, "because they refuse to let us have our soldier [kidnapped IDF Corporal. Gilad Shalit]...." According to the prime minister, the Hamas "is not really interested in the well-being of its prisoners. They want to topple Abu Mazen at any cost."
In his interview, Prime Minister Olmert said of Abu Mazen, "He personally has shown consistently his opposition to terror and his discomfort with Hamas techniques. But it is incumbent upon him to do more than just say how uncomfortable he is with Hamas. He hasn't yet shown enough determination and inner strength to put down this government of terrorists...."
Echoing the assessment that the PA president, and leader of the Fatah terrorist organization, represents a moderate, peace-oriented leadership, Foreign Minister Tzippy Livni was quoted Saturday night as saying that a current Israeli goal is to strengthen Abu Mazen, "in order to make it possible for him to communicate the message to the moderates among the Palestinians that there is another way."
Aside from the potential for negotiations with a differently constituted PA government, the US president and Prime Minister Olmert are expected to discuss the current situation in Gaza, the Iranian nuclear threat, and the implementation of the UN-brokered ceasefire in Lebanon. Also expected to be on the agenda is Israel's bombing of Beit Hanoun in Gaza, which apparently led to the deaths of at least 18 Arabs, including women and children. On Saturday, the US vetoed a proposed UN Security Council resolution that would have condemned Israel for the Gaza bombing and established a UN fact-finding team, as well as creating "an international mechanism" tasked with "protection of the civilian populations."
During the first days of his US trip, Prime Minister Olmert will meet with US President George W. Bush, Vice-President Richard Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, leading congressmen from the Republican and Democratic parties, as well as several Jewish congressmen. Olmert is due to return to Israel on Thursday, following an address he is to deliver at the annual convention of American Jewish organizations in Los Angeles.