Many analysts feel that Minister Olmert, a political ally of Prime Minister Sharon, was "testing the waters" for his boss with his call for a unilateral withdrawal. Olmert said that he has not had an "in-depth" discussion with Sharon on the topic, but it is felt that his remarks reflect Sharon's general trend of thought.
The Prime Minister, who has spoken often of "painful concessions" of late, displayed once again today the duality of his stance and his relationship to the Land of Israel. Speaking at the weekly Cabinet meeting, Sharon said this morning, "If Israel were a normal country, every foreign ambassador and every Jewish child would visit the Machpelah Cave in Hevron." He later asked the ministers if they could possibly imagine a situation in which Jews would not live in Hevron. Minister Avraham Poraz of Shinui said, "Yes," to which Sharon said, "It will never happen."
The Prime Minister, who has spoken often of "painful concessions" of late, displayed once again today the duality of his stance and his relationship to the Land of Israel. Speaking at the weekly Cabinet meeting, Sharon said this morning, "If Israel were a normal country, every foreign ambassador and every Jewish child would visit the Machpelah Cave in Hevron." He later asked the ministers if they could possibly imagine a situation in which Jews would not live in Hevron. Minister Avraham Poraz of Shinui said, "Yes," to which Sharon said, "It will never happen."