Olmert Faces Harsh Criticism At Home
Ryan R. Jones - All Headline News Correspondent Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Wednesday came under intense criticism from opposition voices and members of his own Kadima Party for pushing his West Bank withdrawal program, even as the nation is engaged in fierce battles against Hamas and Hezbollah. Speaking to reporters, Olmert said a victorious outcome to the war on Hezbollah will create "new momentum" for his plan to unilaterally withdraw Israel from roughly 90 percent of the West Bank. Last week, Olmert told a group of Jewish evacuees from Gaza that despite the heavy fighting on Israel's northern and southern borders, his "realignment" plan remained a top priority. The Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip (Yesha) warned in a statement that "the continuation of the blind rush to realignment provides terrorism with a back-wind and encourages (Hezbollah chief Hassan) Nasrallah to continue until all his objectives are achieved." Senior opposition figure Avigdor Lieberman cautioned in an interview with Ynet that just as former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's pullout from Gaza had "brought Hamas to power and led to the massive firing of Qassams on the South and the abduction of our soldiers, so would the realignment plan lead to the massive firing of thousands of missiles on central Israel communities and Jerusalem." "Instead of wasting billions on a dubious |
