AP Photo by Kevin Frayer Acting Israeli Prime Minister and Kadima Party leader Ehud Olmert speaks during a party caucus meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, Wednesday, April 5, 2006. Olmert and his Kadima Party held their first caucus since winning Israeli general elections last week.

Olmert elected, West Bank to be Given Away
By Kristy Eudy, 04.06.03

Israeli President Moshe Katsav formally selected Ehud Olmert on Thursday, April 6, to form Israel’s next government. On March 28, Olmert of the Kadima Party was elected as interim Prime Minister of Israel.

Upon election, Olmert said he prefers to “set Israel’s borders in the framework of a peace deal,” according to the Associated Press. If an agreement cannot be quickly reached, he plans to withdraw settlements from most of the West Bank, but at the same time strengthen Israel’s hold over major settlements. His goal is to draw the final borders by 2010.

Assembling a coalition is already underway in order to carry out Olmert’s West Bank withdrawal plan. He has nearly a month to try and establish a governing coalition, which will be composed of at least 61 lawmakers.

In his victory speech, Olmert also addressed Palestinians in his plan of peace between the two states.

“We are prepared to compromise, to give up parts of our beloved Israel, to uproot – painfully – Jews who live there, to allow you the conditions to achieve your dreams as well, and live in a state beside us in harmony,” he said according to a report from CBN News’ Middle East Bureau.

Another report from CBN reveals that Israel will leave most of the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) to Palestine, with the exception of Jerusalem and three major settlement blocs, under Olmert’s plan. Currently there are almost 250,000 Jews in Judea and Samaria. Only three quarter’s of them will be kept in Israel, which leaves about 60,000 who’ll be forced to leave their homes.

When President Bush called Olmert to congratulate him, he told Bush of his desire to follow in the footsteps of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who still remains in a coma after his stroke on Jan. 4.

Tell A Friend