“The president of the United States will adopt the wording, the world with adopt it, the European Union, also the Arab world. We can tell the Israeli People that this is what can be achieved after long years of negotiations and the Nation will decide.”
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on reaching a deal with Abbas before he leaves office
Source: Maariv correspondent Ben Caspit 22 August 2008

And on what basis would the “Nation decide”?

On the basis of the merits of the deal?

No.

On the basis of the consequences of rejecting what Olmert hopes to transform from simply the rejection of a proposal to rejection of something already adopted by the entire world.

So here we are, at what, if Olmert succeeds, could be the most critical decision in Israeli-Palestinian relations, and a man who would not even be in office today if AG Mazuz was doing his job, is doing everything in his power to effectively deny the Nation their right to choose.

This reckless exercise in hubris should be rejected for the gross violation of a genuine democratic process that it is.

The reaction of those who claim to champion democratic value – be they politicians, commentators, or NGO’s, should serve as a litmus test of their true commitment to democracy.

Dr. Aaron Lerner is Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)

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