The Washington Post reports that PM Olmert has dismissed Amos Gilad as chief negotiator on behalf of Israel for a ceasefire with Hamas.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert dismissed Israel’s top negotiator in Gaza truce talks for publicly criticizing Olmert’s demand that Palestinians hand over a captured Israeli soldier before any deal is clinched, officials said Monday.
The move threatens to disrupt the talks just weeks before Olmert is succeeded by the hawkish Binyamin Netanyahu, who wants the Gaza Strip’s Hamas rulers toppled and is considered likely to take a tougher line in the Egyptian-brokered truce negotiations.
The spin is typical for the Washington Post. Why shouldn’t Israel be tougher with the terrorists? After all, with Washington pushing to pay Hamas off for a war they started, Hamas stands to come out ahead right now.
Herb Keinon of the Jerusalem Post describes the conflict between Olmert and Gilad. It seems to be as much about politics and personalities as it is about policy. Given that a soldier’s life is at stake, it makes the shenanigans shameful. Still from my outsider’s view, I’d have to side with Olmert. Hamas should have to give up Shalit instead of continuously using him as a bargaining chip.
Hamas doesn’t like it. Good.
Crossposted on Soccer Dad.
