JERUSALEM – Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert believes that hissuccessor Benjamin Netanyahu’s political career has come to an end. Whilecommenting on Netanyahu’s failure in forming a government after twoinconclusive elections, Olmert said he would be finished. He will beindicted, and Netanyahu is finished. His service as prime minister has cometo an end.
Former Israeli PM believes that the next government, which according tohim, will be minus-Netanyahu, will be ‘less provocative’ and more severetowards normalizing ties with Palestine.
He said that if President Benny Gantz, a fierce rival of Nethanyahu, formsthe government after third elections, he will make headways in betteringIsrael’s regional position.
The policy of Israellinkwillnot be provocative, and there will perhaps be more meaningful contacts withthe Palestinians.
Olmert served as the Israeli Prime Minister from 2006 to 2009.
Olmert criticized Trump-administration ‘hastily’ moves to recognizeJerusalem and Golan Heights as Israeli territories, saying that it was amistake that only added fuel to the fire.
He admitted that the new Israeli government will have to work harder for apeace settlement with Palestine as things had worsened due to thesemeasures. *An Independent Palestinian State*
Ehud believed that ِIsrael will continue to face hostilities from countrieslike Iran, Pakistan, and Malaysia until or unless there is a peacesettlement in the region.
“We don’t want to be living in one state with a majority of Palestinians.The only way to avoid it is to separate. The only way to separate is toallow the Palestinians to create their independent state,” Olmert said.
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[image: Former Israeli PM seek diplomatic ties with Pakistan]
He continued to support the peace talks with Palestine, saying that it wasthe only solution to have better ties with Pakistan and Iran.
“Pakistan is a country with great potential,” Olmert said. “We already havesome informal contact. We used to have in the past – I can say from acertain degree of knowledge. And I think that we should continue.”
Since Israel has no direct conflict with Pakistan, so why shouldn’t the twocountries have good relations? He questioned.
Answering a question related to non-recognition of Israel from severalMuslim countries, he said, a successful peace deal with Palestine will helpto mend ties with all Muslim states.
Ehud is a former Israeli premier and Jerusalem mayor. He remained the headof state from 2006 to 2009. During his short but eventful premiership, heled military campaigns against Hamas and Hezbollah, made progressnegotiating with Palestine, and introduced pro-active foreign diplomacy,which helped the country make strides on the global front. He stepped downfacing corruption charges but was acquitted by the court.
