 JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has put his proposal for an Israeli pullout from parts of the occupied West Bank on hold for now following the war in Lebanon, one of his aides said on Friday.
The aide acknowledged that the prime minister’s more pressing priority for now was leading the recovery from economic damage in northern Israel caused by a month of rocket attacks by Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas. “There is no point in trying to pursue the plan at the moment, there are far more urgent matters which must be dealt with following the war in Lebanon,” the aide said.
| “Resurgent violence in Gaza, which Israel evacuated last year, plus the Lebanon war appear to have dampened public enthusiasm for territorial withdrawals...” |
A report in the Haaretz daily on Friday, citing what it said were private conversations between Olmert and other ministers and party members, quoted the prime minister as saying the issue was no longer at the top of his governmentÂ’s agenda. Resurgent violence in Gaza, which Israel evacuated last year, plus the Lebanon war appear to have dampened public enthusiasm for territorial withdrawals, which Olmert made the centrepiece of his manifesto that won him election in March.
Rightist opponents of the Gaza pullout have warned that another unilateral pullout plan would only embolden Palestinian militants in their fight against Israel. They cite the rocket fire into Israel from Gaza and Lebanon as an example.
| As one of many examples. Looks like those of us, including me, who thought this was a good idea were wrong. I admit it. |
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