Playing Peace In The Middle East?

Photo by Thaer Ganaim / Palestinian Authority / Associated Press U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (left) stands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during their joint press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah yesterday.

Jerusalem – U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice returned yesterday to the Middle East to assist in formulating a joint declaration for the planned Mideast conference in Annapolis, Md. next month.

After receiving a detailed briefing on the importance of the Orthodox Sephardic political party of Shas (holding 12 seats) in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s coalition, Ms. Rice met with Shas leader Eli Yishai, the minister of industry, trade and labor. She was warned that discussions in Annapolis on the core issues – hinting at Jerusalem – would topple the coalition.

When Ms. Rice met with Mr. Yishai, his spokesman emphasized that she was careful to say “Israel must deal with the core issues” without mentioning the word “Jerusalem” by name. Mr. Yishai did so, however, mentioning Jerusalem cannot be on the agenda. She did not argue with him, nor did she mention the word “Jerusalem.”

Mr. Yishai explained his beliefs by stating, “Let it be clear: Jerusalem is not up for negotiation – neither the holy places nor anything else. Jerusalem is outside any kind of dialogue. You know that every Jew on his wedding day says: If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its cunning. Imagine what every young bride and groom would think if we harmed Jerusalem. This is out of the question.”

When Ms. Rice spoke with Palestinian officials, a State Department source confirmed she did raise the issue of Jerusalem and told her Palestinian counterparts Jerusalem is indeed on the agenda and she would push for a building freeze on Jewish expansion in “East Jerusalem.”

However, a source in the American Jewish community leadership stated emphatically that he had been briefed by the White House yesterday that Ms. Rice had “no authorization whatsoever” to raise the issue of Jerusalem in the negotiations. Meanwhile, Ms. Rice’s proclaimed in Ramallah yesterday “this is the time to establish a Palestinian state,” even though she was privately quoted as saying Israel and the Palestinians were not anywhere near agreement on any joint declaration of principles in this regard.

The response to Ms. Rice in Israel has become less than serious. Ms. Rice has become the target of pundits throughout Israel, as her “peace proclamations” have become the target of ridicule on leading Israeli talk shows.

One Prime Minister, Three Investigations

Meanwhile, Ms. Rice’s visit to Israel was overshadowed by three parallel police investigations of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Last week, police finished questioning the prime minister in the Bank Leumi affair. Another investigation that is already taking place against him is over his house on Cremieux Street. This time the investigation against Mr. Olmert includes two different issues. The first focuses on the allegation that while serving as minister of industry and trade, he took action to appoint his associates to senior positions in the Small Business Authority; the second, which is connected to the same time frame, alleges that he promoted deals of his business partner and friend, attorney Uri Messer, at the Investment Center, a body that works on behalf of the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry.

Last year, Israel State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss began to examine the benefits granted to projects and groups close to Mr. Messer, Mr. Olmert’s former partner in his law office. According to the allegations, Mr. Olmert “pushed” projects of Mr. Messer’s clients while he was minister of industry and trade, held meetings to shorten procedures in his bureau and accelerated granting tens of millions of shekels, despite reservations of the professional echelon at the ministry. For every success in advancing such a deal, Mr. Messer allegedly received a bonus.

The state comptroller’s letter said: “Olmert’s actions entailed a conflict of interest and inappropriate action when he intervened in procedures and decisions at the Investment Center in connection with the Dimona Silica Company, which was represented by his associate, attorney Uri Messer.”

This report by the comptroller joins another that was examined by his office and is connected to the Small Business Authority, which is also under the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry. That report by the state comptroller indicates Mr. Olmert worked toward advancing and appointing associates and Kadima Party members at the Small Business Authority.

These two allegations were combined into one investigation at the Justice Ministry, since both deal with Mr. Olmert’s period of service as minister of industry and trade.

Upon the completion of the various examinations at the Justice Ministry about the affairs and the receipt of an opinion, Israel Attorney General Meni Mazuz,together with State Attorney Eran Shendar, held a number of discussions, which were also attended by the deputy state attorney, the criminal department administrator, the economic department administrator and other officials who were involved in the matter. Following the discussions, a decision was made to launch an investigation.Justice Ministry officials noted that the decision about these affairs took longer than usual, as the comptroller’s reports did not present a sufficient foundation for a criminal investigation, and so it was necessary to examine additional material received by the Justice Ministry from other sources.

The statement by Attorney General Meni Mazuz that he had instructed police to begin another investigation, a third one, against Mr. Olmert, drew responses from the all sides of the Israeli political spectrum about the prime minister.

The chairman of the Knesset State Audit Committee, MK Zvulun Orlev (National Union-NRP), said: “Above the head of the prime minister hovers not only a heavy cloud, but also dark allegations, under which no human being could run a country.” Even in the Labor Party, Kadima’s coalition partner, there were harsh reactions to the decision to open another investigation. “Olmert must suspend himself,” said MK Pines. “The prime minister is breaking records. Never were four police investigations taking place simultaneously against a public figure in Israel.”

Israeli Labor Party Member of Knesset Sheli Yehimovitch also spoke aggressively: “The moment that the Labor Party will no longer be able to serve as a fig leaf for Olmert’s corruption investigations is approaching, and the possibility of resigning from the government because of the corruption affairs must be seriously considered.”

David Bedein can be reached at Media@actcom.co.il. His Web site is www.IsraelBehindTheNews.com

©The Bulletin 2007