Olmert: Next U.S. administration may not be as accommodating

By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday said he was uncertain of whether the next United States administration would be as sympathetic toward Israel as that of President George W. Bush, and as such, efforts should be made to take full advantage of the current U.S. leadership.

(This doesn't bode well, as Israel is gearing up for attacks on Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran.)

This coming Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans to hold a three-way meeting with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and senior Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat announced the planned meeting after the U.S. proposed holding trilateral talks with Israel and the Palestinians in order to accelerate negotiations on the core issues and bridge the major gaps that still exist.

(It's about time the Palestinians tell Israel's sponsor where to go, and embarks on a real process.)

Analysts said the corruption scandal dogging Olmert has dramatically reduced the chances of a peace deal before Bush leaves office in January and could force Rice to consider scaling back her ambitions.

(This was always a facade anyway, designed to give Olmert some positive PR while his Government increased its attacks on Palestinians, the illegal annexation of further Palestinian land, and other policies which actually make reconciliation more unlikely.)

Olmert is currently under investigation over suspicions that he illegally received funds from an American millionaire.

So far there are few signs that she is prepared to do so as she leaves Washington on Wednesday on a trip that will take her to Paris for an Afghan donors' conference on Thursday and then to Jerusalem and Ramallah for her sixth visit this year.

(Rice has experienced Israel's duplicity first-hand, and when she called the Olmert Government on the many steps it's taken to obstruct peace, Israeli Extremists began attacking her.)

Rice is also expected to have a three-way meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who is a key player in determining how far Israel goes to ease Israeli-imposed restrictions (illegal measures of Collective Punishment) placed on the Palestinian residents of the West Bank.

Dspite Olmert's difficulties, the administration has said it will continue to press for a peace agreement this year - the goal Bush announced at a high-profile peace conference he hosted in November in Annapolis, Maryland.

"The question is not about his desire but about his ability," said a senior U.S. official of Olmert's predicament. "I'd rather be criticized for an element of romanticism than for an element of neglect."

However, Western, Palestinian and Israel officials have all acknowledged privately that Olmert's corruption investigation could trigger new elections, dimming - if not snuffing out - the chances of a deal this year.

(Possible successors, like Netanyahu the Extremist, have already stated that they would cancel any agreement Israel makes under Olmert.)

Some analysts said Bush should now concentrate simply on handing over an active peace process to his successor, rather than on striving to produce some kind of a deal that may be impossible to reach given Israel's political uncertainty.

They suggested Washington also work to improve conditions in the West Bank by strengthening Palestinian security forces and governing institutions and by pressing Israel to remove roadblocks Palestinians say cripple their economy.

 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/991492.html

Girl, 6, killed by Israel tank fire in Gaza
 http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gf6wbGZX2ALZl9yL4-99VuksC9bQD917LJMG0

Warnings Pour in For Israel to Cease Collective Punishment
 http://www.winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?10555S

Red Cross Condemns Gaza Collective Punishment (the First Round)
 http://www.winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?8994S

As Predicted: Gaza Reoccupation Planned
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/01/388658.html

Probe: At Least Half of Palestinians Killed by IDF Were Civilians
 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/944276.html

Israeli Attacks on Palestinians, Killings, Doubled Since Annapolis
 http://www.uruknet.de/?p=m40008&hd=&size=1&l=e

UN Condemns Collective Punishment of Gaza
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/01/389757.html?c=on#c187937

It's All Right, I'm Only Bleeding
 http://www.winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?10557S

Israel, World Jewry Drift Apart
 http://www.winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?10554S

Jewish Groups Condemn Collective Punishment of Gaza
 http://www.winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?10877S

Poll Reveals Neo-Con Zionist Groups Unrepresentative
 http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/12/12/ajc_poll/index.html

An invention called 'the Jewish people'
 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/959229.html

Zionism's Support Faltering
 http://www.israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/7472/index.php

Western Jews Revolt Against Zionist Bully Tactics
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/world/2007/03/364749.html

1650 Illegal Settlement Spots Approved This Week Alone
 http://www.winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?15847S

As Predicted: Israel Rejects Truce, Calls Offer 'Failure'
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/397226.html

Real Diplomacy: Carter Meets Hamas
 http://www.israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/8877/index.php

No Peace Without Hamas
 http://www.israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/8876/index.php

Hamas ready to accept Israel as its neighbour: Carter
 http://www.israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/8874/index.php

Hamas Offers Gaza Truce
 http://www.www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/397459.html

Calling Israel's Bluff: Hamas Offers Truce, Negotiations
 http://www.winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?13920S

Israelis open fire on Gazan protesters
 http://www.winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?15849S

As Predicted: Israel Delays Vote on Gaza Strip Cease-fire
 http://www.winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?15846S

When Will Israel Quit Pretending It Wants Peace?
 http://www.winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?15845S

Divide & Rule: Palestinians Stuck at a Crossroads
 http://www.winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?15854S

Israel Storms SE Gaza, Razes More Farms
 http://www.news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/05/content_8317222.htm

As Predicted: Gaza Reoccupation Planned
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/01/388658.html llll

Israel's Goals: Regime Change, Reoccupation
 http://www.israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/8687/index.php

Attack on Gaza Looking More Likely
 http://winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?16447S

Israeli officials: We will invade Gaza before truce deal takes effect
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/06/400696.html