Many prayers have been answered today as Israel's Prime Minister Olmert has announced that he will resign in September. This is the best news I've heard in months! Israel has languished in a state of appeasement and headburyinginthesand for the longest time with Olmert at the helm and during his tenure, we have seen Hamas emboldened, we have seen Hezbollah rearmed and ready to attack Israel with newfound strength and we have seen Iran call Israel's bluff on nuclear weapons. Here's some of the details of Olmert's announcement from Breitbart:
Look at one line of that:
Olmert is angry? Well, Ehud, if you want to talk about angry people let me give you a list:
1. The Israelis who live in Sderot who endured months of terror from Hamas rockets falling on them are angry at you Olmert!
2. The Israeli parents of the young people in the seminary in Jerusalem, who watched their children massacred and never saw you, Olmert, lift one finger to avenge those murder are angry as hell.
3. The Israelis who live in northern Israel who now are staring down a whole new battery of katayshu rockets that Hezbollah has put back in place are angry too.
4. Israelis and others across the world are angry at you, Olmert, for releasing Samir Kantar, the baby killer back to the Lebanese.
I could go on and on and on about the missteps of Olmert over the years, but I do want to extend one congratulatory remark to him. Let's face it, Olmert wasn't elected into this office of Prime Minister but was forced into it when Sharon went down. I think initially Olmert exceeded expectations for a man who was thrust into that mess but the War with Lebanon really showed his inexperience and lack of leadership.
This is a huge day for Israel to see this incompetent stepping down, but the pressure to fill his shoes with just the right woman or man is going to be incredible. The next Prime Minister of Israel will face the greatest challenges the Israeli nation has ever encountered.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, facing corruption allegations and plummeting approval ratings, announced Wednesday he will resign in September. The move threw his country into political turmoil and raised doubts about progress for U.S.-backed Mideast peace efforts.
Appearing angry and reading from a prepared text, Olmert made the brief statement at his official Jerusalem residence where he harshly criticized the corruption investigations against him. He said he was choosing the public good over his personal justice.
"I was forced to defend myself against relentless attacks from self-appointed 'fighters for justice' who sought to depose me from my position, when the ends sanctified all the means," he said. Olmert has consistently denied wrongdoing but pledged to resign if charged with corruption.
Look at one line of that:
"Appearing angry...."
Olmert is angry? Well, Ehud, if you want to talk about angry people let me give you a list:
1. The Israelis who live in Sderot who endured months of terror from Hamas rockets falling on them are angry at you Olmert!
2. The Israeli parents of the young people in the seminary in Jerusalem, who watched their children massacred and never saw you, Olmert, lift one finger to avenge those murder are angry as hell.
3. The Israelis who live in northern Israel who now are staring down a whole new battery of katayshu rockets that Hezbollah has put back in place are angry too.
4. Israelis and others across the world are angry at you, Olmert, for releasing Samir Kantar, the baby killer back to the Lebanese.
I could go on and on and on about the missteps of Olmert over the years, but I do want to extend one congratulatory remark to him. Let's face it, Olmert wasn't elected into this office of Prime Minister but was forced into it when Sharon went down. I think initially Olmert exceeded expectations for a man who was thrust into that mess but the War with Lebanon really showed his inexperience and lack of leadership.
This is a huge day for Israel to see this incompetent stepping down, but the pressure to fill his shoes with just the right woman or man is going to be incredible. The next Prime Minister of Israel will face the greatest challenges the Israeli nation has ever encountered.
Israeli prime minister to resign in September
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, facing corruption allegations and plummeting approval ratings, announced Wednesday he will resign in September. The move threw his country into political turmoil and raised doubts about progress for U.S.-backed Mideast peace efforts.
Appearing angry and reading from a prepared text, Olmert made the brief statement at his official Jerusalem residence where he harshly criticized the corruption investigations against him. He said he was choosing the public good over his personal justice.
"I was forced to defend myself against relentless attacks from self-appointed 'fighters for justice' who sought to depose me from my position, when the ends sanctified all the means," he said. Olmert has consistently denied wrongdoing but pledged to resign if charged with corruption.
Olmert's term was to end in 2010 but he said he would not run in his party's primary election, set for Sept. 17, and would step down afterward "in order to allow the chairman to be elected and form a different government quickly and efficiently." He did not answer questions from reporters.
Olmert's popularity dropped below 20 percent at one point after his bloody but inconclusive war in Lebanon in 2006, and a string of corruption allegations and police interrogations have battered him in recent months. Political analysts here have predicted his resignation for weeks.
Dan Margalit, an Israeli political analyst and longtime friend of Olmert who recently fell from his favor, called the decision to step down "a sad end to a miserable career."
President Bush spoke to Olmert just before he announced his resignation and wished him well, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. He said Bush intends to work closely with Olmert until he leaves office and has appreciated the Israeli leader's friendship, leadership and work for peace.
The State Department said Olmert's departure would not affect U.S. efforts to broker some kind of peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians by the end of the year.
"The Israelis will work out their own politics," spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters. "We're going to continue working on the basis on which we've worked. We're going to look forward to working with all responsible Israeli leaders in the government, whether it's this government or some future government."
McCormack said there has never been a "perfect moment" for negotiating an end to the conflict and it would be unwise to wait for one.
Olmert, 62, served as Jerusalem mayor for 10 years until 2003, when he was appointed trade minister in former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government. He held that position until he became prime minister in 2006 after Sharon suffered a devastating stroke.
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