Source: Al-Manar TV, 19-7-2007
"Israeli" Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Friday he cannot promise that the situation along the Gaza Strip will not become similar to the reality that existed along the northern border prior to the outbreak of the Second Lebanon War, "Israeli" Radio reported. Nonetheless, Olmert said he is convinced that `"Israel"` should not launch a major ground assault in Gaza, nor should it reoccupy the Strip, the report stated. The "Israeli" PM made the comments during a conversation with senior Kibbutz movement leaders at a conference held in `Kibbutz Yifat`. A senior "Israeli" army source said Thursday that the army is very concerned about Hamas` growing strength in the Gaza Strip, but not enough to lead it to ask for permission to carry out a large-scale military operation there. Olmert expressed reservations regarding a High Court of Justice decision obligating the state to reinforce schools in the Gaza area by the beginning of the next school year, in order to help protect them against Qassam rocket fire. "The court will not decide where to reinforce and when to reinforce," he said.
According to the radio, Olmert also called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to begin direct "peace negotiations" without American mediation. He called on Assad to drop his demand that `"Israel"` agree to withdraw from the Golan Heights as a precondition to talks, saying the Syrian president`s demand for an "Israeli" withdrawal to the pre-1967 lines is a precondition that `"Israel"` cannot accept.
On Thursday, "Israeli" President Shimon Peres called for direct negotiations with Syria if its stated desire for "peace talks" is genuine.
Olmert also referred to the convergence plan - a proposed unilateral withdrawal from much of the West Bank, on which he based his 2006 election campaign - saying that at this stage, neither unilateral steps nor the evacuation of settlements are on the agenda.
"In the long run, everyone understands that "Israel" cannot exist if the Jewish majority is not ensured;" he said. "For this reason we will have to make difficult decisions."
According to the radio, Olmert stressed that the current diplomatic focus is on reaching a negotiated agreement with the Palestinian Authority that is acceptable to both sides. Olmert added that he has no intention of resigning over the state comptroller`s investigations into him or the criticism of his handling of the Second Lebanon War, saying he intends to be Kadima`s candidate for prime minister in the next elections.