Embattled Olmert reaching out to Syria?

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (PBS.org)

JERUSALEM – Embattled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, facing devastatingly low poll numbers and calls from the public and senior officials to resign, has directed staffers at Israel's Foreign Ministry to conduct preparation work for the possibility of talks with Syria, WND has learned.

The talks would aim for an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, strategic mountainous territory looking down on Israeli and Syrian population centers twice used by Damascus to launch ground invasions into the Jewish state.

The information comes after a government-appointed committee last week released a report slamming Olmert's decision-making process during last summer's war against the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. The report prompted mass demonstrations and widespread calls for Olmert to step down, including from the prime minister's own deputy, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. But some analysts speculated Olmert's ratings could rise if he reached out to his leftist base and conducted negotiations with the Palestinians or Syria.

According to top diplomatic sources, Israel's Foreign Ministry has been conducting staff work to prepare for possible negotiations with Syria. The sources said Israeli intelligence agencies have been asked to submit reports on the status of Syria's military and the likelihood of a Syrian military attack against the Jewish state.

Livni has held talks with senior Ministry staffers to outline Israel's interests during any negotiations with Syria, said the sources.

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Foreign Ministry analysts were instructed to put together detailed reports on whether Syrian President Bashar Assad is serious about recent calls for peace with Israel, the sources said. Assad also recently made a series of statements his military is ready for war with the Jewish state.

In spite of Olmert's purported order to prep for talks, Assad today blasted Olmert as "too weak" to reach any deal.

"We are working toward a just and comprehensive peace but Israel is incapable of conducting comprehensive and just negotiations because its government is too weak to take the necessary steps,” Assad said.

"The Golan Heights region is not open to negotiation,” said Assad, explaining any talks with the Jewish state must result in a complete Israeli withdrawal from the territory.

Syria, which signed a military alliance with Iran, openly hosts Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders. Israel says Syria has been allowing large quantities of weapons to be transported from its borders to the Lebanese-based Hezbollah militia, which last summer engaged in a war with the Jewish state. Syria has been accused of supporting the insurgency against U.S. troops in Iraq; generating unrest in Lebanon; and has been widely blamed for the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Last month, Israeli security officials told reporters Syria aided by Iran is making preparations for a summer war with Israel, including acquisition of advanced weaponry, placement of missiles near the Jewish state's border, and training and movements of strategic troop battalions.

The information followed media interviews in which top Assad deputies warned if Israel doesn't vacate the Golan Heights, Damascus will resort to "resistance."

The U.S. has largely imposed a diplomatic isolation on Assad, but last week U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with her Syrian counterpart, Walid Moallem, marking a possible change in American policy toward Damscus.

Olmert reaches out to Israeli leftists

An interim Lebanon war probe released one week ago blasted Olmert and the military high command for rushing into what it termed an unplanned conflict that cost 162 Israeli lives but failed to destroy Hezbollah or free two Israeli soldiers captured in a Hezbollah border raid.

Olmert and Peretz, the defense minister, were strongly criticized for failing to appropriately consult with military experts before or during the war. Neither has extensive military experience.

The wording of the report's criticism of Olmert was much harsher than expected, since the authors were appointed by Olmert.

Olmert last week said it "would not be right" for him to resign until he had corrected faults identified in the report.

The prime minister stated since the report didn't call for him to step down he shouldn't be asked to. But the interim report was not authorized to recommend the resignation of top officials.

During the war in Lebanon, more than 3,000 Hezbollah rockets were fired at Israeli population centers, killing 43 civilians. Israeli troop casualties totaled 119, with many soldiers killed by anti-tank fire during periods the soldiers were ordered to stand down and maintain positions outside Lebanese cities and villages.

Since the war, there have been widespread calls for Olmert to resign, culminating in a massive rally last week in Tel Aviv attracting upwards of 200,000 people.

WND reported in the weeks prior to the report's release Olmert, anticipating a major backlash, held meetings with leading leftist figures here pledging to carry out Israeli withdrawals in exchange for their continued support. The sources said Olmert told the leftist leaders he is willing to reach a final status agreement with the Palestinians, including an Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank, which borders Jerusalem and is within rocket range of Tel Aviv.

Earlier this week, WND quoted political sources stating Olmert's office held secret talks the past few days with aides of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas pledging Olmert is willing to carry out Israeli withdrawals and hold immediate final status negotiations to create a Palestinian state. Abbas currently heads a unity government with the Hamas terror group.

According to the political sources, Olmert deputies told Abbas' officials the prime minister is willing to evacuate large swaths of the West Bank.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat confirmed to WND a meeting will be held between Olmert and Abbas in the coming days.

"There will be a meeting. We don't have an exact date but we've been in contact with our Israeli colleagues and hope to hold talks very soon leading to the implementation of the U.S.-backed roadmap, which calls for a Palestinian state," Erekat told WND.

Olmert's office said a meeting with Abbas will be set up but denied there were secret talks in which pledges were made to the Palestinians.

"I don't know anything about back-channel talks," said Olmert spokeswoman Miri Eisin.

Erekat told WND the Palestinians are willing to negotiate with Olmert in spite of the state of political affairs in Jerusalem.

"Look, we have our own turmoil in Palestinian politics, but that shouldn't delay us from pursuing an agreement," he said.

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