Trade Minister Ehud Olmert, who received a burst of media attention two weeks ago with his call for a unilateral withdrawal but has been upstaged since then by a somewhat similar call by Prime Minister Sharon last week, called a press conference last night. Olmert guaranteed himself some more headlines by saying that the government plans to evacuate tens of thousands of Jews from their homes in the framework of the unilateral disengagement plan.
Olmert lined up with Sharon by saying that Israel is obligated primarily to the Road Map plan, but that if the PA refuses to fulfill its part, Israel will carry out its part on its own - namely, according to Olmert's interpretation, the destruction of Jewish yishuvim (communities) in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. The political establishment is still reeling from Olmert's sudden and near-total reversal of his positions. Just 13 months ago, in November 2002, he told Arutz-7, "We should dismantle the Palestinian Authority." Knesset Speaker Ruby Rivlin, who, like Olmert, grew up in a Land of Israel-atmosphere home, expressed disgust at Olmert's remarks, saying that it reminds him of the absolute turnabout of his hareidi-turned-secular cousins: "When they became not religious, they went all the way - not only driving on the Sabbath, but also eating pig."
Olmert said last night that "many more than thousands" of Jewish residents would be affected. "It will apparently be tens of thousands. I can't give exact numbers, but a significant number of Jews in Yesha will have to leave and a significant number of communities... There's no doubt that it will be a very painful and difficult process, a confrontation of unknown proportions in the history of this country." Despite the difficulties involved, and despite the fact that it "will lead to difficult clashes with the residents and their supporters, the government is determined to do it."
On the other hand, the same "difficulties" are apparently insurmountable for Olmert in reference to the transfer of Arabs. Speaking with Yediot Acharonot earlier this month, he asked rhetorically, "What moral right do I have to throw a man out of the home in which he was born?"
Olmert lined up with Sharon by saying that Israel is obligated primarily to the Road Map plan, but that if the PA refuses to fulfill its part, Israel will carry out its part on its own - namely, according to Olmert's interpretation, the destruction of Jewish yishuvim (communities) in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. The political establishment is still reeling from Olmert's sudden and near-total reversal of his positions. Just 13 months ago, in November 2002, he told Arutz-7, "We should dismantle the Palestinian Authority." Knesset Speaker Ruby Rivlin, who, like Olmert, grew up in a Land of Israel-atmosphere home, expressed disgust at Olmert's remarks, saying that it reminds him of the absolute turnabout of his hareidi-turned-secular cousins: "When they became not religious, they went all the way - not only driving on the Sabbath, but also eating pig."
Olmert said last night that "many more than thousands" of Jewish residents would be affected. "It will apparently be tens of thousands. I can't give exact numbers, but a significant number of Jews in Yesha will have to leave and a significant number of communities... There's no doubt that it will be a very painful and difficult process, a confrontation of unknown proportions in the history of this country." Despite the difficulties involved, and despite the fact that it "will lead to difficult clashes with the residents and their supporters, the government is determined to do it."
On the other hand, the same "difficulties" are apparently insurmountable for Olmert in reference to the transfer of Arabs. Speaking with Yediot Acharonot earlier this month, he asked rhetorically, "What moral right do I have to throw a man out of the home in which he was born?"